Prime Minister Bruce Golding is hoping that a “misrepresented aspect” of National Hero Sir Alexander Bustamante’s life will be set right with the opening of a museum showcasing the life and work of the country’s first prime minister.

Golding said the perception that Bustamante, who became independent Jamaica’s first prime minister in 1962, encountered intellectual challenges was “unfair” and an injustice to history.

“There is a part of Sir Alexander that has for too long been ‘mistold’. There is a perception that has been handed down throughout the age that Sir Alexander encountered intellectual challenges. Some of this told quite affectionately in the jokes we hear; some of it is said as a way of ridicule,” Golding said at yesterday’s opening of the museum at 24 Tucker Avenue, Kingston, where Bustamante lived when he became prime minister.

“I think it is an injustice to history. I think it’s not fair to Sir Alexander,” Golding added.

He said contrary to perceptions, newspaper articles portray Bustamante as a firebrand politician who was

very charismatic.

“If you take the trouble to research the archives of the Gleaner and to see the letters that he wrote so frequently and furiously bringing attention to various social issues, there was nothing intellectually challenged about the mind who put those thoughts together,” he said. “If you read his speeches as recorded in Hansard, if you follow his logic, his reasoning, the way he expressed his thoughts, the way he arrived at conclusions and where he put his emphasis then you would understand that this man was a highly intelligent person.”

Yesterday, Golding said the museum was long overdue and encouraged more efforts to be placed on preserving other aspects of Jamaica’s history.

“As a people we don’t do enough to preserve in visible, illustrative ways, the symbols that relate to the outstanding personalities who, in a significant way, have helped to shape our development as a people. The symbols that provide a glimpse of the intimate surroundings in which great men and women did great things,” he said. “So much of our past exist in anecdotal form and remains the memory of those who are rapidly becoming anecdotes themselves and therefore taking with them so much of what is us.”

The museum has on display several photographs of the former prime minister, as well as newspaper clippings of articles he wrote, and other artefacts. A model of his childhood home is also on display.

Information Minister Babsy Grange said the 24 Tucker Avenue residence, which was declared a national monument, was purchased from Lady Bustamante at a “modest price” into the ownership of the Heritage Trust which has been maintaining the property ever since. The residence was leased to the Bustamante Foundation, which established the museum.

The foundation, Grange disclosed, will be adding another wing to the three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence in honour of Lady Bustamante.

Also on hand for yesterday’s opening ceremony were Governor-General Sir Kenneth Hall – who officially declared the museum opened – and former prime ministers Edward Seaga and PJ Patterson.

Describing the museum as an integral part of the country’s rich political, social and cultural heritage, Hall encouraged Jamaicans to share the experience.

Seaga, in the meanwhile, reminisced about Bustamante’s journeys to Latin American countries which reshaped his outlook on life.

“This museum is a hallmark of experiences and knowledge of the life of a great [man],” he said. “It serves the purpose of educating us to the past.”

Patterson, for his part, described Bustamante as a “trailblazer in so many aspects of national life” and recalled his first encounter with him.

“I watched very carefully how he practised the art of political stewardship. no matter how vigorous the political context or robust the debate, he would always find the way and the time to diffuse the tension and make everyone feel at ease,” he said. “I hope that everyone who visits this museum will get more than an insight of how this illustrious patriot lived and what he achieved.”