Jamaicans Urged To Emulate Norman Manley by Standing Up Against Wrongdoings

Jamaicans are being urged to emulate National Hero, the Rt. Excellent Norman Washington Manley, by standing up against wrongdoings meted out to fellow citizens regardless of political leanings or personal danger.

Custos of Manchester, Hon. Sally Porteous, made the call at a civic ceremony to commemorate the 122nd anniversary of the National Hero’s birth, held on July 4 at his childhood home in Roxborough in the parish.

“It would be good if we could learn from his philosophy and put into practice that which would make us the kind of people, where we take care of our brothers and sisters, even when we do not agree with their political views,” she said.

“He was unafraid to do the right things. He set high standards as to how our leaders should lead, and in doing so, received the admiration of all Jamaicans,” she noted.

Custos Porteous recalled that it was Norman Manley, who came to the defence of Sir Alexander Bustamante, when he was incarcerated under colonial rule.

“It was he, who took up Bustamante’s case, because what was being done to him was wrong. What a fine example for us to follow. It was due to actions like these that made him the success that he was,” she said.

Guest speaker at the event, and Senior Lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Dr. Orville Taylor, highlighted the role Jamaica played under the premiership of Norman Manley in the 1950’s, in pressuring the Apartheid regime in South Africa, and the many labour laws that Manley initiated to protect workers in Jamaica.

Other speakers included Mayor of Mandeville, Councillor Brenda Ramsay; Member of Parliament for North East Manchester, Audley Shaw; and Member of Parliament for North West Manchester, Mikail Phillips.

The civic ceremony, organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), included tributes and performances from Mount Olivet Primary School, Porus High School, Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Band, Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT), Norman Manley Foundation, political leaders, and representatives from academia, community and civic organisations.

The National Hero, who was born July 4, 1893, died on September 2, 1969.

A Rhodes Scholar, who studied law at Oxford University, Norman Manley was enlisted and fought in the First World War in the Royal Field Artillery, and later returned to Jamaica to serve as a barrister.

During the 1938 labour unrest in Jamaica, he donated time and advocacy to the cause of the workers.