NEW YORK, USA — Scores of Jamaicans attended a function here on Saturday to commemorate the centenary anniversary of the arrival of national hero Marcus Garvey into the United States.

Organised by the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and the African Communities League, the event was also used to officially launch a wholly-owned Jamaican Company — using Garvey’s philosophy of economically empowering African Americans and aimed at tapping into the US $52-million food distribution market among Jamaican and Caribbean nationals.

Michael Duncan, a company official, said in an interview preceding Saturday’s event that the move to set up the company was “also aimed at providing investment and employment opportunities within the Jamaican community.”

The company raised more than U$300,000 in a public share offer at the meeting as it seeks to secure US$6 million to capitalise the company within three to six months.

Meanwhile, Raymond Dugue, a vice-president of UNIA, gave a historical overview of Garvey’s tenure, his achievements and plans in the United States.

“Much of what Garvey envisioned remains relevant today,” he told the audience.

The company’s plans include the engagement of Jamaican farmers from whom it hopes to purchase yam and other supplies.

— Harold Bailey