The 100th anniversary of the birth of former Prime Minister Michael Manley has brought into sharp focus the ‘tremendous’ (one of his favourite words) contribution he and his father, Norman Manley, have made to the Jamaican nation in the areas of social change, self-determination, and people empowerment.

The People’s National Party (PNP), which they have both led, is one of the pivotal pillars that this fledgling nation has been built on, the other being the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) founded by Norman’s cousin Sir Alexander Bustamante.

In his book Alexander Bustamante And Modern Jamaica, the late Professor George E Eaton wrote: “Exercising a powerful charismatic appeal, very much in the tradition of Alexander Bustamante of the 1940s and 1950s, and utilising demagogic and rhetorical techniques also reminiscent of the ‘Chief’, Michael Manley succeeded in projecting a modern-day ‘Messiah’ — Joshua — with his ‘rod of correction’… actually an ornate and elaborate miniature walking stick presented [to him] by Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia on the occasion of the PNP Opposition leader’s visit to that country — being brought into play to confer legitimacy on Joshua.” This was how young Michael, having succeeded his father who retired in 1969, surged dramatically into the consciousness of the Jamaican people, who would see him leading his party to victory in the 1972 General Election with the catchy slogan ‘Better Must Come’.

Notwithstanding his faults and peccadilloes, he was well loved and respected by the majority of the Jamaican people during his lifetime and beyond. That tall, brown-skinned, handsome man with exquisite and effective oratorical skills remains one of Jamaica’s most favourite sons. Of course, his unrepentant obsession with democratic socialism, which saw him developing a controversial “bromance” with the late Cuban President Fidel Castro did put him on the wrong side of history to many, especially the United States (the West) and the upper middle class Jamaicans who bristled at his “five flights a day to Miami” speech which epitomised for them a maniacal ideologue hell-bent on taking Jamaica into full-blown communism.

The shocking results of the 1980 General Election, which swept the Edward Seaga-led Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) into power reflected the people’s fear, and indeed anger, at the time based on a socio-economic environment in which everything seemed to have been going wrong. It was indeed a tragic case of a dream deferred.

In her book, The Manley Memoirs, his then wife, Beverley Manley, stated: “”Following the election results, the house at Washington Close was like a funeral home. People moved around aimlessly, not knowing what to do or where to go. But, for now, we were concerned for our safety and the safety of those around us. The plight of the masses of the people who had stood up for socialism concerned us.”

In time, the PNP regrouped and with fixity of purpose set about retaking state power with a somewhat “reformed” Joshua who would abandon his Kareeba suit and don the seemingly more accepted business suit and tie when he returned triumphantly to Jamaica House in 1989. But, alas, the nation was never to know the full extent of his visionary leadership skills that time round as a grave illness caused him to resign in 1992. In March, 1997, Michael “Joshua” Manley died, leaving behind a lasting legacy.

At the time of his death, I wrote in my Jamaica Observer column, then entitled ‘Life in the West’: “It is not for this generation to make Manley a national hero. Already, he is a hero in the eyes of many of the poor and dispossessed, the marginalised and the wretched of the earth. What we should be doing is to fulfil his mission so that in the long run generations to come will call him blessed. Norman Manley took us into political independence and charged the next generation, epitomised by his son Michael, to achieve economic independence, which is yet to be accomplished…Until that is achieved, then we who are wallowing in Manley’s legacy will have betrayed his vision for a better Jamaica.”

The PNP is now on the cusp of possibly regaining state power, but it should remind itself of the words of Michael Manley, who once opined that left to themselves political parties are merely there to win elections. So even as the party basks in the illustrious glow of his immortal persona, Mark Golding, at the helm, must begin to steer the party in the direction of not just winning the next general election but also accomplishing the ideals of the party as espoused by Norman and Michael Manley.

Professor George Eaton declared, when the PNP first came to power under the leadership of Michael Manley: “The PNP’s victory has been interpreted by most competent observers as a mandate to effect fundamental economic and social change or a social and economic ‘revolution’, if one prefers the more emotive term which is now part of the conventional wisdom.”

It is safe and fair to say that, that “revolution” was derailed and people within and outside the PNP must take some of the blame for that failure. Notwithstanding the fact that socialism tends to connote the negative aspects of a communist rule, it must be noted, for example, that China, a communist State, has sought to espouse many aspects of capitalism in its economic pursuits.

What the PNP needs to do, therefore, is to not necessarily abandon its democratic socialist ideals but adopt a common sense and patriotic approach to governance. In this regard, the nation is fast becoming impatient with respect to the party unveiling its policy imperatives and vision. Time is of the essence as Prime Minister Andrew Holness can “fly the gate” at any time that is convenient and auspicious for him and the JLP. After all, it has been said, and rightly so, that timing is the art of politics.

In the final analysis, the PNP must remain inspired by the impeccable integrity of Norman Manley and motivated by Michael Manley’s vision of empowering the people, a solid foundation on which to provide Jamaicans with good governance that is responsible and responsive — essentially the politics of change.

Lloyd B Smith has been involved full-time in Jamaican media for the past 40 years. He has also served as a Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. He hails from western Jamaica where he is popularly known as the Governor. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or lbsmith4@gmail.com.