MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The poor turnout at a ceremony to mark the 130th anniversary of the birth of National Hero Norman Manley at his birthplace in Roxborough, Manchester on Tuesday has left Mikael Phillips fuming.

So annoyed was Phillips — the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manchester North Western and a vice-president of the 84-year-old People’s National Party, which Manley served as its first president — that he scolded the country’s political leaders, as well as members of his own party for paying scant regard to the memory of national heroes.

“Even though we are here celebrating the 130th anniversary of the birth of Norman Washington Manley… to see the turnout here today is a bit disappointing,” Phillips said at the ceremony.

He said the poor turnout and support from elected political leaders and the PNP’s Region Five organisation is a reflection of how society does not value the significance of commemorating national heroes and milestones.

“The turnout today is a microcosm of what is taking place right across the country. Just the decay of moral values and the whole values of who we are as a people dead,” Phillips told the Jamaica Observer.

“Manchester itself, the recognition of one who is a national hero… 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. We have such a low turnout from the various civic groups, students and even from the political directorate from the parish itself.

“This is not despite which party that Norman Manley represented, but just the importance of his life as a national hero that we do not give the importance to today,” added Phillips.

Manchester Central MP Rhoda Crawford was absent from the function but had sent a representative. However, there was no mention of a representative for Manchester Southern MP Robert Chin.

Phillips noted that when Manchester North Eastern MP Audley Shaw “was mobile he used to come. I find that these new MPs, them nuh attend nothing in the parish and Roxborough falls on the border of central and south Manchester”.

“I know it is a Parliament day, but it is for us to at least represent, start from there. If we are not setting the example, then why should anybody else follow? At least Rhoda sent a representative. Chin just did not turn up,” added Phillips.

“If you ask children nowadays what is the significance of today, they say ‘it is America’s Independence Day’, but those who we stand on their shoulders as a country, who were there, who fought for us to be who we are now, we don’t even recognise that, it is poor,” said Phillips.

“The schools, you thought that the school would use it as a civics educational outing; only one school, Old England, was represented there,” he added.

The PNP’s Region Five, which comprises Manchester and St Elizabeth, also got a tongue-lashing from Phillips.

“Even us as a party itself is not even represented there to the fulsome of what we used to be. For me we are really moving backwards, not forward. PNP’s organisation in the region itself has fallen down. The region itself would normally mobilise and that was non-existent this year. Norman Manley is a national hero,” Phillips emphasised.

“I think we are forgetting the foundation of our own Independence and existence that I think we treat not only Norman Manley, but other national heroes with disregard. When I look at the photos of even out at [National] Heroes’ Circle [on Tuesday], I see more of the diplomatic corps and specially invited guests than just regular Jamaicans and it shows back when we celebrate Independence and Emancipation; Jamaicans just take it as a regular holiday and have forgotten the significance of those days,” he said.

He was referring to the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Manley’s monument at National Heroes’ Park led by PNP President Mark Golding.

“We need a reset both politically and just everything, because we are going down the wrong direction… More Jamaicans travel to the US during this period to go celebrate with their family American Independence and I can guarantee when it is our own Independence they see it as just a regular holiday — going to the beach and forgetting the foundation of the fight of our national heroes and those who went before us in their own sacrifice for the nation that we now enjoy and call our own,” added Phillips.

In a news release on Tuesday marking the anniversary, the PNP described Manley as a visionary statesman.

“As the first president of the PNP, he led our organisation with unwavering dedication and commitment, fostering a vision of social justice, equality, and empowerment for all Jamaicans. His diplomatic acumen and steadfast determination earned him respect on the global stage, where he played a crucial role in shaping regional cooperation and unity in the Caribbean. His leadership extended far beyond political boundaries. As a brilliant lawyer, he fearlessly advocated for the rights of the marginalised and disenfranchised, tirelessly championing the cause of social and economic justice,” the party said.