What's in a name?

There is a plethora of roads in Jamaica named after our heroes, statesmen, personalities, and politicians. Some of the names have faded from memory with the discontinuation or breakdown of the roads. Others lose their relevance as history sifts out those of significance from those easily forgotten.

Some names are coined quickly to take advantage of the political period in power. Others are appropriately named. For example, the Bustamante Highway in Clarendon, the Michael Manley Boulevard, the Ken Jones Highway in Portland, the Florizel Glasspole Boulevard pointing us towards Port Royal, and the Norman Manley Boulevard, which is the main road through Negril. In case you have forgotten, there is a Winston Jones Highway bypassing Mandeville, the Howard Cooke Highway in St James, and, if memory serves right, the A.G.R. Bygrave Highway bordering St Ann's Bay and a Claude Stewart Highway in St Mary, which has quite mysteriously disappeared.

Some have crossed the divide. Bustamante died in 1977 during the People's National Party (PNP) term in office. The Government was prompt and correct in naming the children's hospital and the Newport waterfront in his honour.

Stadium name

The Donald Sangster and Norman Manley airports are popular names. It's interesting to note that Manley died in 1969 while the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) was in power, and it wasn't until 1972, under a new government, that the name was changed from Palisadoes to Norman Manley.

We lost a golden opportunity to be magnanimous in 1962 when the National Stadium was opened. It would have been most appropriate to name it the Norman Washington Manley Stadium. As premier, he not only built it under his watch, but had to contend with strident resistance from the JLP, which insisted that it was a colossal waste of money. Besides, Manley was one of the finest schoolboy athletes we have ever produced. His record 10 seconds flat for the 100 yards at Champs in 1911 remained unbroken until 1952.

Sometimes our memories need prodding. Who remembers that the income tax building on East Street is named after Sir Donald Sangster? And by the way, does anybody remember that Highway 2000 almost became the Usain Bolt Highway?

Roads are not only named after politicians. Past entertainers still make music in Kingston with the Bob Marley Boulevard, Rita Way, Ken Boothe Close, Chosen Few Avenue, Miss Lou Close, and recently, the Studio One Boulevard. Sportsmen also lend their names to the Headley Avenue and Valentine Crescent, among others.

It's not always wise to have a road named after you. Remember, the grand John Brown Highway can easily become the grand John Brown Memorial Highway.

Political bias

Speaking of roads, the current contretemps over the Jamaica Development Infrastructure Programme has arisen only because we have allowed our parliamentarians to divide up the country into their own little constituencies. So much so that when a road is being built in any part of Jamaica, no matter how many people it serves, the local politicians claim it as their own. They have no right, because they do not own a single road in Jamaica. The next absurd level will be to determine how many constituencies represented by a particular party are served by the North Coast Highway. Then we can charge political bias and refuse to drive on certain sections of the highway, even if it offers a comfortable ride from Kingston to Montego Bay.

I hope this one will go away, and without any embarrassment to our foreign investors or diplomats. Platform exchanges of today do not share the characteristic humour of earlier times. It is said that Bustamante once called for three cheers for his candidate at a presentation meeting. An opponent promptly shouted, "Three cheers for a jackass."

"OK, son," laughed Busta, "we won't quarrel. You cheer for your man and I'll cheer for mine."

Right now we face an election with 126 persons or more about to seek fortune and fame. Some are nearing retirement but still holding on. Others want to come back after a spell in the cold. Flirting with the idea of reincarnation, I once joked that when I go, I would like to return as some sort of a four- footed animal. "Lance," chided my friend, "you can't come back as the same thing twice."

Lance Neita is a communication specialist. Email comments to columns@gleanerjm.com or lanceneita@hotmail.com.