Anonymous Jamaican as the next national hero

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Over the past years, come late September into early October, a debate resurfaces concerning the elevation of Miss Lou and/or Bob Marley to national hero status. Those who argue for their elevation do so passionately, they do so with love and admiration, and they do so with great pride in our wonderful country. Both have given us hours and hours of joyous entertainment for the past half a decade or more. It is easy to see why their names would be perpetual nominations to be made national heroes of Jamaica.

However, to the disappointment of a great many persons, it was announced in October of this year that the Government has shelved the idea of naming Bob Marley and Miss Lou as national heroes. Prime Minister Andrew Holness instead announced plans to introduce a new national honour, ‘the Order of National Icon’, for both Marley and Bennett-Coverley.

Order of National Icon is a stroke of genius! It recognises and elevates these two beloved persons to a national status, while preserving the status for national Hero of which both Marley and Bennett-Coverley might not have qualified.

So this now begs the question: do we really need another national hero? Our next national heroes, if there are to be any at all, should be the anonymous Jamaican who represents everyone, home and abroad.

The anonymous Jamaican hero represents every law-abiding citizen working to raise their children, participate in their community, and build our economy. We see these anonymous Jamaican heroes every day.

For the great part, Jamaicans have made meaningful and influential contributions in every community they reside. From the hundreds of Jamaican workers who went to Panama to help build the Panama Canal, to those many thousands of Jamaicans and other West Indians who went to Britain as part of the Windrush generation and helped to rebuild Britain after the ravishes of two world wars.

The anonymous Jamaican hero represents the numerous influential scholars and sportspersons and musicians, past and those to come. They represent me and you, our families, our neighbours, and yes, our families abroad.

The anonymous Jamaican national hero represents all of us. We are celebrated around the world. It’s time we celebrate ourselves.

SHELDON NEIL