Dear Editor,
Michael Manley is arguably the best prime minister Jamaica has produced. This national treasure was truly an international leader in his own right — up there with the very best of them. I believe he was way ahead of his time.
His mantra about changing the “World Economic Order” was echoed by the former prime minister of Britain, Gordon Brown, not too long ago. And now, in the upcoming United States presidential election, Democratic contender Senator Bernie Sanders, who’s getting a lot of traction and is leading Hillary Clinton in some polls, is calling himself a Democratic Socialist. Listening to him is like listening to Michael Manley.
If Jamaica wasn’t so polarised the country would have been better off if it had followed his leadership. It is most unfortunate that anyone who stands up for social justice for poor working class and middle-class people is sometimes viewed negatively in our society.
I recall his agricultural slogan of “grow what you eat, and eat what you grow” or his flagship slogan of “the word is love”.
He was a visionary and a champion of the working class. Born of privilege, his father was a brilliant lawyer (one of the best in the world) and founder of the People’s National Party. His mother was a distinguished and renowned sculptor. The London School of Economics educated man he was, identified with the underprivileged before it became fashionable. From the upscale neighbourhood of Drumblair, he came to downtown Kingston, organised and fought for the workers’ rights, laying across public thoroughfare, blocking traffic to make his point. On the political scene he faced tear gas on Spanish Town Road during political campaigns. I remember when he lost in a landslide in a general election, all the analysts, including the late Carl Stone, were saying on the radio that his loss was a setback to not only Jamaica, but the Caribbean and the Third World on a whole.
He was close to Fidel Castro and didn’t apologise for that. In the height of the Cold War he made some inflammatory statements which were uncalled for and which angered the United States. For this, it was felt his Government was destabilised at home and abroad. But he was a true democrat, and not a communist; and even if he had harboured any such intentions, the country wouldn’t stand for it — and rightly so. Still, no leader, no matter how great, is flawless. When he won a subsequent general election by a landslide, he turned things around and was back in good grace with the United States.
Other leaders, including Edward Seaga and P J Patterson, have all made significant contributions to the country, but none better than Michael Manley — the peaceful warrior.
Noel Mitchell
Westchester, New York
nlmworld@yahoo.com
Michael Manley is arguably the best prime minister Jamaica has produced. This national treasure was truly an international leader in his own right — up there with the very best of them. I believe he was way ahead of his time.
His mantra about changing the “World Economic Order” was echoed by the former prime minister of Britain, Gordon Brown, not too long ago. And now, in the upcoming United States presidential election, Democratic contender Senator Bernie Sanders, who’s getting a lot of traction and is leading Hillary Clinton in some polls, is calling himself a Democratic Socialist. Listening to him is like listening to Michael Manley.
If Jamaica wasn’t so polarised the country would have been better off if it had followed his leadership. It is most unfortunate that anyone who stands up for social justice for poor working class and middle-class people is sometimes viewed negatively in our society.
I recall his agricultural slogan of “grow what you eat, and eat what you grow” or his flagship slogan of “the word is love”.
He was a visionary and a champion of the working class. Born of privilege, his father was a brilliant lawyer (one of the best in the world) and founder of the People’s National Party. His mother was a distinguished and renowned sculptor. The London School of Economics educated man he was, identified with the underprivileged before it became fashionable. From the upscale neighbourhood of Drumblair, he came to downtown Kingston, organised and fought for the workers’ rights, laying across public thoroughfare, blocking traffic to make his point. On the political scene he faced tear gas on Spanish Town Road during political campaigns. I remember when he lost in a landslide in a general election, all the analysts, including the late Carl Stone, were saying on the radio that his loss was a setback to not only Jamaica, but the Caribbean and the Third World on a whole.
He was close to Fidel Castro and didn’t apologise for that. In the height of the Cold War he made some inflammatory statements which were uncalled for and which angered the United States. For this, it was felt his Government was destabilised at home and abroad. But he was a true democrat, and not a communist; and even if he had harboured any such intentions, the country wouldn’t stand for it — and rightly so. Still, no leader, no matter how great, is flawless. When he won a subsequent general election by a landslide, he turned things around and was back in good grace with the United States.
Other leaders, including Edward Seaga and P J Patterson, have all made significant contributions to the country, but none better than Michael Manley — the peaceful warrior.
Noel Mitchell
Westchester, New York
nlmworld@yahoo.com