Dear Editor,

In light of the discussion being waged in the public domain about whether the Denbigh High School should be renamed in honour of octogenarian Mike Henry, I want to add my few words in opposition to this proposal.

Mike Henry is one of my absolute favourite Members of Parliament, as he comes across as a diligent worker. Surely he should be given all the respect, but taking away the school’s name and replacing it with his is, to my mind, not a prudent thing to do and should be resisted strongly. On the principle of refusal to rename, I stand in solidarity with the past students.

It never ceases to amaze me how we often rush to rebrand schools as monuments to politicians as though they are the only ones among us mere mortals who are worthy of such acclaim, accolades and commemoration. I beg to differ.

I also find it very laughable that the iconic schools that are all over the island have never had the misfortune of anyone ‘passing dem place’ to make such a suggestion. Can you imagine someone suggesting that we rename Calabar High as Colin Campbell High, Kingston College as Desmond McKenzie High, Campion College as Karl Samuda High, and Immaculate Conception High as Maxine Henry Wilson High? (I just picked some names at random.) Of course we know these proponents would be laughed out of town, if not charged for treason; because under no circumstance would these foolhardy ideas be entertained by the fiercely loyal and influential past students, who would turn black, blue, green, and purple with rage.

I would humbly suggest that some hall or wing at the school be named after him — if it is a life and death situation and imperative that some such monument be raised in his honour.

A few years ago I was of this same opinion when they wanted to rename my alma mater, Charlemont High, after Asafa Powell. That time I said to them…not so fast! I believe that in this present dispensation, if schools are to be renamed, they should be so done after people who donated the land, put up the money, made some major contribution that was all impacting on the national landscape. Anything outside of that, wheel and come again.

Long live Denbigh High School, because this rose by any other name might not smell as sweet.

Darolyn Henry-Cross

Brampton, Canada

hdaro36@yahoo.com