Another plea for Marley, Bolt, former PMS
IN less than a month the usual list containing the names of those to be recognised at the national honours and awards ceremony will be out.
Surely, you can place a wager that no national hero will be named again this year — another kick somewhere on the body for those who have excelled in their areas of endeavour.
It seems as if the leaders of the land are afraid to reward some people with what they truly deserve. It is time that former prime ministers Michael Manley, Edward Seaga, and P J Patterson be so recognised, for they, despite shortcomings, have represented Jamaica with distinction and have done for this country more than what leaders before them, and after, have. So why is there this major delay in arriving at the inevitable?
Jamaica often boasts about its prowess in the arts, its music in particular, and sport; but which individual who has outdone all the others in music and sport has been elevated to national hero status? Not one. Instead, while we know that National Hero Norman Washington Manley was a star sportsman at Jamaica College and Oxford University, he never represented Jamaica. And as for music, we have to wonder whether Nanny, Sir Alexander Bustamante, Paul Bogle, Marcus Garvey, Sam Sharpe, or George William Gordon could sing.
Look, Bob Marley and Usain Bolt, too, must be made national heroes. Any other country with the system that we have would have so named them already. No living person can dispute the contribution of Marley and Bolt, and it makes no sense listing all their achievements now. The facts are there for everyone to see and hug up.
It may not be worth pushing cricket, but look at Barbados — they have named Garfield Sobers a national hero. Antigua & Barbuda have done likewise with the great Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards. In both cases the honour was given for their exploits on the cricket field, mainly through their batting. But would Jamaica do the same for George Headley whose batting average is superior to both Sobers and Richards? I suppose not.
Come on Jamaican leaders, do the right thing. Let’s increase the stock of national heroes with the names of people who absolutely deserve to be on the top shelf.