CABINET NOTES: The Cabinet has appointed a committee to conduct research and provide recommendations on the renaming of three streets in St. John’s, as an initial phase of a broader initiative.
The objective is to commemorate and honour the legacy of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, George A. Weston, and George Alexander McGuire—distinguished figures associated with the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and the African Orthodox Church, both in the United States and in Antigua and Barbuda.
Marcus Garvey visited Antigua in the late 1930s, likely around 1937 or 1938, during a tour of the British West Indies. Several historical sources reference his presence and impactful public addresses during that time as leaving an indelible mark on the consciousness of the Antiguan and Barbudan people.
George Alexander McGuire (born March 26, 1866 in Sweets, Antigua – died November 10, 1924 in New York City) was a prominent Antiguan-born church leader, physician, and advocate for Black religious autonomy and empowerment.
Involved with Marcus Garvey’s UNIA from 1919; appointed Chaplain-General at its first international convention in 1920.
On Sept 2, 1921, he established the African Orthodox Church in NYC—a denomination led by and for Black Christians; consecrated a bishop later that month.
The church emphasized spiritual and racial autonomy and a return to Black-rooted religious expression: “You must forget the white gods… go back to … your own true God.”
George A. Weston (1885–1973), originally from Green Bay, Antigua, was a pivotal figure in Black nationalism, religious leadership, and social empowerment, both in the Caribbean and North America.
Became a recognized leader in the UNIA by 1924. After internal splits following Garvey’s imprisonment, he led a major NYC UNIA faction.
Later ordained in the African Orthodox Church (AOC) and, after WWII, returned to Antigua to conduct missionary work under the AOC, officially forming the African Orthodox Evangelical Mission.
In Antigua, he promoted Garvey’s philosophy of racial pride and economic independence. He founded a Negro History Week, aimed at instilling African-Caribbean awareness in youth, and launched local industrial ventures including the Pro-Lad Paint Company tailored to tropical climates.
He and his wife Maudelle also established a nursery school teaching African-Caribbean history and dance.
The team comprises Chairman of the Reparations Commission, Ambassador Dorbrene O’Marde, Historian Ambassador Lionel Max Hurst, Director of the National Archives, Gavin Emmanuel and Antiguan Author Cortwright Davis and a member of the Antigua and Barbuda Progressive Society in New York.
The team will also be responsible for identifying other Antiguan and Barbudan unsung heroes who were never honoured or celebrated.