Dear Editor,

Over the past many years, come late September into early October, a debate resurfaces concerning the elevation of Louise “Miss Lou” Bennett-Coverley and/or Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley to national hero status.

Those who argue for their elevation do so passionately, they do so with love and admiration, and they do so with great pride in our wonderful country. Both have given us hours and hours of joyous entertainment for the past half-century or more. It is easy to see why their names would be perpetually called to be made national heroes of Jamaica.

However, to the disappointment of a great many people, it was announced in October of this year that the Government has shelved the idea of naming reggae legend Bob Marley and cultural icon Miss Lou national heroes. It was further reported that Prime Minister Andrew Holness instead announced plans to introduce a new national honour, Order of National Icon, for both Bob Marley and Miss Lou.

The designation of the Order of National Icon was a stroke of genius! It recognises and elevates these two beloved individuals to a national status while preserving the status of national hero, for which both might not have qualified.

So this now begs the question: Do we really need another national hero? If this or successive governments decide in the negative then I’m perfectly fine with their decision. I have no strong feelings either way. But if the answer is in the affirmative, I have a very strong opinion.

I believe that our next national heroes, if there are to be any at all, should be the anonymous Jamaican man and woman. This anonymous Jamaican man and woman represent all the Jamaicans at home and abroad who, over the past the past century, have worked tirelessly to make Jamaica into one of the most recognisable and influential countries that the world knows.

The anonymous Jamaican man and woman represent every law-abiding, responsible Jamaican at home who work tirelessly every day to raise their children, participate in their community, and build the economy. We see these anonymous Jamaican men and women heroes every day. We see them taking their children to school or commuting to work, sometimes under the harshest of conditions. We see them in their workplace, oftentimes underpaid but offering the best service they can nonetheless.

For the great part, Jamaicans have made meaningful and influential contributions in every community they reside. From the hundreds of Jamaican workers who went to Panama to help build the Panama Canal, considered one of the seven great wonders of the world, to those many thousands of Jamaicans and other West Indians who went to Britain in the 1930s and 1940s as part of the Windrush Generation to help rebuild Britain after being ravaged by two world wars.

The anonymous Jamaican man and woman heroes represent the numerous influential scholars, sportsmen, and musicians from the past, in the present, and yet to come. The anonymous Jamaican man and woman heroes represent me and you, our families, our neighbours, and yes, our families abroad.

The anonymous Jamaican man and woman national heroes represent all of us. We are celebrated around the world; it’s time we celebrate ourselves.

Sheldon Neil

sheldon@goodwilltucker.com