Michael Manley's honour
published: Wednesday | June 23, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

DR. D.K. Duncan's commentary in today's edition of theThe Gleaner provided for some interesting reading. The award to Michael Manley was indeed an honour to all Jamaicans and a tribute to Michael Manley for his relentless fight to change the system of apartheid. All those who were honoured by the South African government were seen as unworthy leaders who were leading the world down a path of communism and ultimate destruction. Leaders like Ronald Reagan, former President of the United States, had no respect for these leaders.

Today, things have changed. South Africa is no longer under apartheid and the United States has become the world's only superpower. We view liberation struggles as something ugly, undemocratic and downright stupid. The United States dominates the world and has adopted a policy of pre-emption, belittling both the weak and the strong in the world.

The current PNP government will take great pride in Michael Manley's honour from the South African government, but lest we forget, many members of the current administration opposed Michael Manley's policies and fought to defeat those forces who saw the liberation struggles as paramount for the poor of the world to achieve justice. My question to Dr. Duncan is where have all the Jamaican liberators gone? Where is the vanguard PNP in this process? The current PNP leaders are clearly not on the side of liberation and should be ashamed to accept this honour in Michael Manley's name. Until they are willing to stand up for something important in the world, even when it is unpopular they should not accept this honour in his name.

I am, etc.,

DENNIS FRANCIS

Denafranco55@hotmail.com

Poughkeepsie, NY

Via Go-Jamaica