The late Harry Belafonte, a legendary singer, actor, and activist who passed away in New York at the age of 96, is to be honoured by the Jamaican government with a section of the North Coast Highway in St Ann named after him.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the announcement on Tuesday during a tribute session in the House of Representatives. Holness stated that the decision to name the highway in honour of Belafonte had been made before his passing.
Holness said, “The Government of Jamaica considered how we should recognise this icon, and we concluded that we would name a highway in his honour. We approved the naming of a section of the North Coast Highway from Priory to Salem in St Ann in honour of Harry Belafonte…that segment will be renamed the Harry Belafonte Highway.”
The selected section of the highway passes through St Ann, where Belafonte spent part of his childhood. Minister of Gender, Culture, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange also paid tribute to Belafonte, noting that he and his younger brother were brought to Jamaica by their mother, Melvine, a native of the country.
