The Government has transferred two plots of land in Albion, St. James to members of the Rastafari community, as part of its internal reparations programme.

The lands were transferred during a ceremony at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday.

Addressing the ceremony, Culture Minister Olivia Grange said the transfer is for the establishment of an elder care facility under the Reconciliation Programme.

That programme started in 2017 with an official apology from Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness to members of the Rastafari community for historic state abuse stemming from the Coral Gardens incident of 1963.

Included in the Prime Minister’s apology was a commitment to establish a Trust Fund of no less than $10 million for the benefit of survivors of the Coral Gardens incident.

The Fund was established by the Administrator General’s Department, as trustee, with funding from the Ministry of Culture in 2018.

Since that time, the Ministry has contributed $122 million to the Fund.

Minister Grange pointed out that during the last seven years, the Trust Fund has been administered to the benefit of more than 30 survivors.

She said yesterday’s ceremony marked a significant milestone in the nation’s journey towards healing and reconciliation.

She also thanked members of the Rastafari community for their willingness to engage with the Government, as it makes amends for a past wrong.