Please help support the fight to save Pinnacle and sign the online petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/pinnacle/
During the late 1930's when the famous "uprising" took place in St. Thomas, Jamaica, many ex-slaves went suffering racism, oppression, inadequate living conditions and hunger. Pinnacle became the safe-haven for thousands of blacks who desired to live and work communally in Unity. Under Howell's leadership, Pinnacle was transformed into one of the largest self-reliant/economically empowered communities in Jamaica.
In the 1970's, a small flock of Rastafarian elders took refuge in Tredegar Park, St. Catherine continued to support the teachings of Howell until his death in 1981. Until today, the Rastafarian of Pinnacle were never, compensated for their loss of property, homes, lives and humiliation suffered. It is said that Howell had been arrested, incarcerated and was sent to Jamaica's Mental Institution over (50) fifty times. At one meeting, Howell was noted as having said that Mr. Neville N. Ashenheim, a prominent Lawyer of Jewish background, argued for the Bill of Rights in terms of protecting property rights and that property could not be confiscated without adequate compenstation. "At Emancipation the planter were adequately compensated for "freeing" the slaves, but I, Leonard Howell was never compensated for Pinnacle and the crimes committed against me and the Rastafarian people."
During the 1980's, the Jamaican government sold off most of this land at Pinnacle to foreign and private investors. Pinnacle is now sub-divided and being sold off by "The St. Jago Hills Development, Ltd." located at 20 Hope Road, Kingston, Jamaica, W.I. The have got hold of Pinnacle Estates, St. Catehrine (the first Rastafarian Free Slave Community) and they are selling/sub-dividing the land (over 500 acres). Last November 2006, The Leonard P. Howell Foundation and other personnel (collective) had a meeting with the then Prime Minister - Portia Simpson to help restore Pinnacle and make it a Rastafari Cultural Center. In addition, last June 2007, Howell Earth-day celebration was held at Pinnacle.
The developers (Ms. Lois Sherwood and her brother-directors of St. Jago Hills) are now suing "The Rastafarian Nation, 1st Order of Nyahbinghi Theocracy, Leonard P. Howell Foundation, Ras Lion and Ras Howie for possession of the Pinnacle site and land.
The Law firm of "Nunes, Scholefield, DeLeona and Co." is having a hearing on November 27, 2007 in the Magistrate's Court in Spanish Town. We have retained a Rastafari/brother and friend Mr. Everton Bird, an attorney at law to represent the L.P.H. Foundation, and Mr. Barrington Frankson to represent the Rastafari Nation. We would like for all who read this document to lend your support, please SIGN THE PETITION, calling for the return of Pinnacle to the Rastafari Nation. One God, One Aim, One Destiny.
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