JAMAICA’S seven national heroes basically have one thing in common — they were all involved in political activity, whether by use of violent means or by peaceful forms of struggle.

Nanny led the guerilla warfare which liberated the Maroons from British colonial rule; Sam Shape led the revolts aimed at freeing slaves from the sugar plantations; George William Gordon spoke out against the injustices of colonial rule; Paul Bogle led a protest by peasants for more just conditions; Marcus Garvey led a worldwide movement of people of African descent with the goals of equal rights, economic self-reliance and the liberation of Africa; Norman Manley was the architect of political independence from British colonialism; and Sir Alexander Bustamante was a pioneer of the trade union movement in the quest for better wages for workers.

The fact that all seven were political activists was perhaps an accident of history, arising from the fact that at the time of designating national heroes the dominant events of our people were the fight against slavery and colonialism, and for political independence for Jamaica and for Black people everywhere.

Several questions have emerged now that we have been politically independent for over half-a-century. First, has any Jamaican in the last 50 years done anything sufficiently important and significant to make them worthy of being named national hero? There is, after all, no limit on the number of national heroes a country can have. Therefore, if there are individuals whose achievements merit such a status, then they can be so designated.

What should be the criteria for a national hero? It must be a contribution which has made a profound difference to Jamaica and Jamaicans. If this is accepted, then contributions in the political arena cannot be the only consideration.

Any field of endeavour which makes a significant difference to Jamaica and Jamaicans should be eligible; be it sports, or culture, or science.

For instance, in the field of culture, some Jamaicans have put forward Mr Robert Nesta Marley and Mrs Lousie Bennett-Coverley. Mr Marley has become a global musical icon whose themes of love and justice in his songs continue to resonate with people all over the world long after his death.

He is easily the best-known Jamaican, having led the establishment of reggae as a global musical genre, and his legacy has continued to promote Jamaican culture while motivating many tourists to visit our shores.

Mrs Bennett-Coverley, better known as Miss Lou, made Jamaican culture and identity legitimate, challenging the imposition of English culture and the upper-class denigration of the language and intelligence of the vast majority of ordinary Jamaicans.

In the field of sports there are many whose performances made them world-class exponents of their discipline. Some would make a case for Messrs George Headley and Michael Holding in cricket; others would support Messrs Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley and, of course Mr Usain Bolt, mostly because he not only did Jamaica proud but he has had a global impact and is the greatest sprinter in history.

Such an elevation, though, will have to wait until his retirement.

It is time to revisit the criteria for national hero and to ensure that it is not confined to political activity. After all, culture, science and sports are just as important.