Elizabeth Morgan | Are Jamaica’s national heroes adequately commemorated?

October is marked as National Heritage Month. This year, National Heritage Week is marked from Sunday, October 18, National Thanksgiving Day to Saturday, October 24. National Heroes Day, established in 1969, was observed on Monday, October 19. The month of October is associated with the Morant Bay Rebellion of October 11-13, 1865.

Jamaica has seven designated national heroes – Nanny of the Maroons, Samuel Sharpe, Marcus Mosiah Garvey, George William Gordon, Paul Bogle, Norman Washington Manley and Sir Alexander Bustamante. Jamaica has recognised the greatness of these six men and one woman given their courage and contribution to the advancement of the island from slavery and colonisation to independence. Their stories are documented. But, are these people adequately commemorated through maintaining historic sites associated with them and more effectively passing on their achievements to future generations?

National Heroes Park

There are monuments to all the heroes in a section of National Heroes Park, which is actually a cemetery, at National Heroes Circle. This park of shrines is fairly well maintained. The cenotaph is also there commemorating those who died in World Wars I and II. Each year, wreaths are laid to commemorate anniversaries and National Heroes Day. There is a Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) post. For a short time, the JDF mounted a ceremonial guard of honour there. If a poll were to be taken, however, it would be found that not many Jamaicans or visitors visit National Heroes Park.

Bank notes – the national heroes are on Jamaica’s bank notes.

Specific sites associated with the heroes

Nanny of the Maroons, c.1686-c.1760 - To learn more about Nanny and the Maroons, one has to visit Moore Town in Portland in the Blue Mountains. A poll might also show that not many Jamaicans have visited Moore Town or know very much about Nanny and the Maroons.

Samuel Sharpe, 1801-1832 - He is associated with Catadupa in St James. Since 1976, the town square of Montego Bay is named for him. There is a monument by Kay Sullivan there depicting Sharpe holding a Bible with his followers. This monument was actually difficult to find in the congested square and it did not look very impressive. The Granville Teachers’ College, established in September 1975, was renamed to honour Sharpe in October of that year. How many of us have been to Sam Sharpe Square and seen the monument there? What state is it in now?

Marcus Mosiah Garvey, 1887-1940 - Garvey was born in St Ann. There is a statue of him at the parish library, made by Alvin Marriott. His boyhood home in St Ann’s Bay has not been fully acquired by the government of Jamaica and is in a derelict state. The main monument to Marcus Garvey in Kingston is the Liberty Hall museum which was the headquarters of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). It is not clear how well used this museum is.

George William Gordon, c. 1820 – 1865 – The main monument to Gordon is the Parliament building, Gordon House, designed by architect, Wilson Chong. This building needs renovation. In fact, a new Parliament building is needed. Gordon lived at Cherry Garden great house in St Andrew, which is now privately owned. He was also associated with Shortwood estate, now the site of Shortwood Teachers’ College. The Half-Way Tree Courthouse, now badly in need of renovation, is also associated with George William Gordon.

Paul Bogle, 1822-1865 – There was a statue of Paul Bogle sculpted by Edna Manley in front of the Morant Bay Courthouse. It was controversial and, with the fire at the courthouse, it is now at the headquarters of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT). There is a heritage park at Stony Gut, where Bogle lived. It is fairly well maintained. There are plans to make the burnt-out, abandoned Morant Bay Courthouse into a museum and to revive this heritage district. This year, in July, the new highway from St Andrew into St Thomas was named to honour Paul Bogle.

Norman Washington Manley, 1893-1969 - The Norman Manley birthplace and museum in Roxborough, Manchester is closed for repairs from damage by Hurricane Melissa. On a visit there some years ago, it was found that the storyboards had errors which needed to be corrected. The impression also was that this museum did not receive many visitors. Manley also lived and attended school at Guanaboa Vale in St Catherine. This entire site, also associated with Bustamante, is neglected and descending into ruins. Norman Manley owned and lived at the St. Andrew property, Drumblair, which was sold. The only section of it left is the house, Regardless, where Norman and Edna Manley lived in their final years. Regardless is now the Manley Centre which it is hoped can be made into a museum by the Norman Manley Foundation. The UWI Norman Manley Law School, the Norman Manley International Airport, the Norman Manley Highway in Kingston, and the Norman Manley Boulevard in Negril bear his name.

Sir Alexander Bustamante, 1884-1977 – The Bustamante Industrial Trade Union was established and named in May 1938. Sir Alexander’s birthplace at Blenheim in Hanover is a heritage site and museum. It is open to the public. It is not clear, however, what is the current condition of the house, and whether it has frequent visitors. Bad roads discourage visitors. There is a statue of Sir Alexander at the Hanover Parish Library. A museum was also established at his home at 24 Tucker Avenue in St Andrew, which, it seems, is now closed. Sir Alexander and Lady Bustamante moved to the Irish Town property, Bellencita, in their later years. On their passing, the property was sold to a private enterprise. Roads named for Sir Alexander are in Clarendon and Kingston.

Heritage sites associated with Jamaica’s national heroes are largely not well maintained and some are closed. Those open are not properly promoted as sites to be visited by both locals, including schools, and visitors. Some sites have not been acquired and some are falling into ruins. A problem, too, is that sites managed by the government are usually closed on weekends and public holidays. This closure makes them less accessible to the public. This policy should be reviewed. Our national heroes and the heritage sites associated with them should be accorded greater importance and care, and should be part of our tourism product for both locals and foreigners.

Elizabeth Morgan is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.