Government Senator Charles Sinclair has proposed that the former home of late musical icon James ‘Jimmy Cliff’ Chambers be transformed into a museum to honour the reggae legend’s life and global contributions.

Paying tribute to the icon in the Senate recently, Sinclair further proposed that a statue be erected at the entrance of Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in Montego Bay, St James.

“I will also take this opportunity, Mr President, to propose that our Honourable Minister [of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport], in partnership with the family of this great icon, examine the feasibility of making his home at Somerton a museum, which will stand as a lasting memory of his life and his work. His legacy must not be forgotten,” he said.

Born in Somerton, St James, on July 30, 1944, Jimmy Cliff rose from modest beginnings to become a central figure in Reggae’s rise to international prominence. He passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 81.

The Government has accorded an official funeral to the late reggae superstar, scheduled for December 17 at the National Indoor Sport Centre.

Jimmy Cliff received Jamaica’s third-highest national honour, the Order of Merit (OM). In March 2019, Gloucester Avenue in Montego Bay was renamed Jimmy Cliff Boulevard in his honour.

Senator Sinclair noted that the late actor, singer and musician was among Jamaica’s most celebrated global superstars.

“Jimmy Cliff would have contributed to our island, Jamaica, carrying the description, ‘we likkle, but we tallawah’. His contribution to building brand Jamaica is recognised and appreciated. His journey through life is one which should be recognised and adopted by every youth. He gave life to the phrase, ‘every ghetto youth is and can be a star’,” he said.

Senator Sinclair further noted that beyond the entertainment scene, Jimmy Cliff contributed to Montego Bay’s growth and development.

“He had interest in the construction of the Oneness Plaza, which bordered on Barnett Street and Hart Street and which gave that area, at the time, a modern look and provided a home for a variety of business activities. He was a consummate family man and a great dad,” he said.

Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson hailed Jimmy Cliff as a distinguished musical ambassador whose artistry firmly established Jamaica’s place on the global musical landscape.

He extended heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and members of the musical fraternity during this time of mourning.

In her tribute, Leader of Opposition Business in the Upper House, Senator Donna Scott Mottley, said Jimmy Cliff’s life’s work will continue to inspire generations across Jamaica and beyond.

“His voice carried the sound of this island, the resilience, the faith, and the humour, the stubborn courage and the profound love for a people that defined who we are as a nation,” she said.

Senator Scott Mottley added that when the late musician sang, he did not merely perform… he carried the nation with him.

“Jimmy walked his road with courage, creativity, and a generous spirit. What has made his message so powerful is that it came from a Jamaican child who rose from the humblest of beginnings, worked for every open door, learned from every fall, and carried his people with him wherever he went. When he told us… ‘you can get it if you really want’… he was not offering empty optimism. He was giving us his own testimony, a lesson in perseverance, faith, and the dignity of striving.

“So we do not merely mourn an artiste. We mourn a son of the soil, a brother, a voice that shaped the rhythm of our national spirit. We give thanks for the courage he modelled, for the hope he sustained, and for the love of humanity that powered every note he sang,” she said.

His early hits, such as ‘Hurricane Hattie’, laid the foundation for a sound that would evolve into Reggae, culminating in his starring role in the landmark 1972 film, ‘The Harder They Come’, and recording of its iconic soundtrack.

Other Senators who paid tribute included Christian Tavares-Finson and Allan Bernard.