THE EDITOR, Madam:
IT IS very unfortunate that any Jamaican would oppose the government's plan to erect a national monument in honour of the late Michael Manley. It is also quite ironic that there are individuals who believe the money could be better spent on developing programmes to improve the economic and social conditions of our people.
I will admit without reservations that we do need to improve our social infrastructure and create more access for our people to the ones we do have.
However, a monument to Michael Manley is also a monument to social development and should also serve as a reminder, for years to come, of the importance of social development.
I need not remind you of the role played by Michael Manley in the creation of social programmes tailor-made for Jamaica; concerning women's rights (equal pay for women), education, health, children's right (bastards and all) to name a few in case we forget.
As a nation we are only 38 years young and are just kids, and as children we need to be reminded so that we can remember.
I am etc.,
RASTERIFI MEDLEY
E-mail:
rdmedley@students.wisc.edu
Madison, Wisconsin
USA
Via Go-Jamaica
