We feel the pain of Member of Parliament for Manchester North Western Mr Mikael Phillips at the scant attendance for the civic ceremony at Roxborough, south of Mandeville in Manchester, on July 4, to mark the birth of iconic nation-builder, National Hero The Right Excellent Norman Manley.

We are left to assume that, for reasons not immediately clear, basic organisation broke down for the usually well-attended annual event at Mr Manley’s birthplace.

Of course, that can’t be a good excuse.

In that respect, we believe Mr Phillips was perfectly correct to chastise those with direct responsibility for organising the function at State level, as well as within his own party, the People’s National Party (PNP), for which Mr Manley was the founding president.

Mr Phillips, the lone PNP Member of Parliament in Manchester, also had stern words for fellow political representatives who had absented themselves.

Said he: “July 4 is not a date that comes every leap year, it is here every year just as we celebrate Christmas or we celebrate Easter. It is a time that we should recognise the life of one who hails from the parish of Manchester…

He condemned the “…low turnout from the various civic groups, students, and even from the political directorate from the parish itself…”

Mr Phillips argued that Tuesday’s poor showing at Roxborough is a direct result of a neglectful attitude towards heritage by Jamaicans and their leaders.

“I think we are forgetting the foundation of our own Independence and existence… I think we treat not only Norman Manley, but other national heroes with disregard…” he said.

Mr Phillips’s comments are not to be scoffed at, for, as is well-established, those who forget their history will soon forget who they are.

If Jamaica is to sustainably thrive as an assertively independent, sovereign nation, our story of struggle, survival, and resistance to oppression, dating back hundreds of years, must be a source of ongoing pride and inspiration for all our people.

That said, we take heart from Cabinet Minister Ms Olivia “Babsy” Grange’s recent report to Parliament regarding the upgrade and creation of monuments honouring those who have served the nation well, including cultural and sporting icons.

We note her pledge that the St Ann’s Bay-based museum in tribute to National Hero, The Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey is now closer to fruition despite an occupant’s continuing refusal to leave the premises. Forceful eviction is never a comfortable option, but obviously, as the minister said, it may have to come to that.

Also, we are heartened by plans to redevelop the Morant Bay Courthouse and the reinstatement of the statue for National Hero, The Right Excellent Paul Bogle; as well as upgrades to the Seville heritage site and others at Port Royal and elsewhere.

Yet, we are also aware that many priceless historic sites — some yet to be formally declared as such — all across Jamaica are in rapid decline and falling apart.

A prime example is the birthplace of former prime minister, the late Sir Donald Sangster at Mountainside in St Elizabeth, which was badly damaged by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

Despite talk down the years of restoration plans for the crumbling structure, absolutely nothing has been done.

That’s an absolute disgrace, to put it very mildly.