Black River, St Elizabeth — Those with a desire to pay special tribute to enslaved ancestors on Emancipation Day (August 1) could consider a visit to the Zong monument close to the fish market, just east of the centre of this coastal town.

Considered among the more important symbolic markers of Jamaica ‘s history, the monument was established in 2008 to commemorate the murder of more than 130 Africans who were being shipped to Jamaica ‘s slave-worked plantations in 1781.

Historians say the British-owned slave ship Zong left Ghana for the Caribbean with 442 captive Africans on board. But when the ship arrived in Black River on December 22, only 208 had survived the journey.

Many died from sicknesses related to cramped, inhumane conditions. However, information also emerged that 132 captives, including women and children were thrown overboard in a bid by the ship’s captain to claim insurance money for loss of cargo.

Unfortunately, visitors to the monument will find that the engraved text has been largely erased by the elements.

That’s to be corrected soon, according to Member of Parliament for St Elizabeth South Western Floyd Green. He told Jamaica Observer Central recently that work to redo the text should take place in short order. Green who is a junior minister in the Ministry of Education said he had received support for the project from Cabinet Minister and renowned advocate for slavery reparations, Mike Henry.

The latter was among reparation activists visiting the monument last December in the first of what is to be annual commemoration functions meant to help Jamaicans remember the Zong tragedy.

Henry as well as historians and social activists at last December’s function reiterated the need for reparations and meaningful apology to the descendants of African slaves for slavery and the slave trade.