ON the occasion of the anniversary of the death of late Prime Minister Michael Manley – March 6, 2026 — the Opposition People’s National Party used the opportunity to recall one of his legacy projects, the National Housing Trust (NHT) which is celebrating 50 years this year.

The PNP described Manley as one Jamaica’s most transformative leaders, a statesman whose vision was anchored in the dignity of ordinary people and the belief that development must be measured by how it improves everyday lives.

“This year, as the NHT marks its 50th anniversary, the nation is reminded of one of the most enduring legacies of the Manley Administration. Conceived as a bold and people-centred intervention, the NHT was founded on a simple but powerful principle: that decent, affordable housing is not a privilege for the few, but a right that should be within reach of working Jamaicans,” the party said in a press statement.

Opposition spokesperson on housing and sustainable living Professor Senator Floyd Morris, and chairperson of the Michael Manley Foundation Senator Donna Scott Mottley hailed Manley as a legend in the political landscape of Jamaica.

“His transformational leadership has led to significant social upliftment of the Jamaican masses. From the moment Michael Manley became prime minister in 1972 he embarked on a programme of social transformation initiatives to empower Jamaicans.

“These included a plethora of labour laws — the establishment of the National Youth Service (NYS); the formation of the Jamaica Movement for Advancement of Literacy (JAMAL); the repealing of the ‘Bastardy Act’; and the implementation of full free education for Jamaicans.”

The senators said: “The establishment of the NHT is another major transformational initiative that has solidified the Most Hon Michael Manley as a legend. The NHT has become one of the most consequential governmental institutions that has changed the face of the housing landscape in Jamaica.”

They pointed out that more than bricks and mortar, the NHT has contributed to social mobility, family stability, and national development. Homeownership has allowed countless Jamaicans to build equity, pass on assets to their children, and participate more fully in the economic life of the country.

“In doing so, it has helped to narrow inequalities and strengthen the social fabric. Entire towns and housing schemes across Jamaica stand as living testaments to this initiative. Michael Manley understood that meaningful independence required economic empowerment, and that the State had a responsibility to intervene creatively on behalf of its people.

“The National Housing Trust remains one of the clearest expressions of that philosophy: practical, sustainable, and profoundly humane.

“As we commemorate both the life of Michael Manley and the 50th anniversary of the NHT, we honour a legacy that continues to shape Jamaica for the better. His vision lives on in the keys handed to first-time homeowners, in the pride of families crossing their own thresholds, and in the enduring idea that public policy, at its best, must serve the people.”

According to Senators Morris and Scott Mottley: “Brilliant ideas will last for a while but legendary actions last for generations. The NHT is celebrating 50 years, and with its strong financial health will last for many years to come.”

The senators are calling upon the Government to recognise the 50th anniversary of the NHT and to highlight the seminal role that Manley played in the establishment of this “institutional colossus”.