Dudley J. Thompson O.J. Q.C.
111 IW 111 1111 111
SARAFINA • Vantage Point 44 Portview Rd # 8 • P.O. Box 2989 Kingston 8 Jamaica West Indies
• Telephone (876) 969-9671 • Fax (876) 969-1042 • e-mail dudjt@cwjamaica.com
.N,W,Manley
Volume 1. Introduces the man.
Events and records of his time
Focal point for the expression of change in the society
Kept in touch with the REAL PEOPLE of Jamaica who occupied the
lower road of insular limitations and chose to lead them out of this to the
higher road of adventure and wider possibilities of Regional Strength and
Confidence
A brilliant and unusual man. Athlete, War Hero, barrister ,Statesman
He played the part with such Fidelity excellence that he accomplished the
part he played in the accomplishment of the ultimate burial of
colonialism and the birth of a nation
INTEGRITY, EXCELLENCE, vision and a Sense of Decency were
his hallmarks.. He was the epitome of patriotism and to him it was not
difficult to give up a lucrative law practice to transfer his talents to serving
the country,Jamaica the land he loved.
He was an optimist as well as a visionary and placed great belief in
the intelligence of the masses.He believed that under independence there
was a great promise and hope for the future.Manley described it as "a power
of new things,a new spirit in this country greater than any promise that has
ever been before in the history of this country.For believe me what this
country will achieve in the way of civilisation will be achieved not by any
economic panacea, not by any magic pronouncement but by a colossal and
tremendous effort in which every man woman and child has got to play a
part and the effort must come from the people on all sides.No country,"he
continued" can get a more active government than the will of the people
demand."
In a country where it is the common trait to speak down and trace one
another Manley led a life that was exemplary. Every one paid respect to
him,He called for a "new discipline of service" ,and he did not only talked
the talk but walked the walk himself. As a role model he attracted many to
the service of Jamaica. Most young men and women of my age group looked
at him with awe and admiration. He inspired me and I spent many hours in
his presence travelling thousands of miles with him and it was impossible to
have a discussion with him for 5 minutes without enriching your knowledge
in some way. He gave you a new idea of the "obligation of service"Manley
spoke of "a call for honesty and sincerity of purpose that must grow to a
white heat in this country if we are to burn out of ourselves the faults of
sloth, intellectual dishonesty and false thinking that were the scourge of the
past".
He opposed racism in any form and often said that one of the greatest
gifts that this little island had to give the world was our tolerance on
injustices like racial prejudice and social inequities,He said these words of
the Right Excellent Marcus Garvey, with whom he did not always
agree,"Here was a man who dared in a hostile world to get up and say
"RISE, you people, for you are GOD's Children, and you are equal to any
people in this world. ONE AIM, ONE GOD,ONE DESTINY" And the man
who did it did it with such dramatic means that the whole world
listened.Prophets are made by history,It is history that has made Marcus
Garvey a prophet because the wheel has come full circle and who would
deny that the Negro is the equal to any man in the world today."
On the 19th of February 1967 Manley spoke the following words. Let
us examine them in the light of today 31 years later. "Let me tell you a little
of what this poor Jamaica of ours is really like.'In every village and town I
see at least half of the young men out of work.In every village and town the
young girls are having babies for fathers who themselves have no work. The
old women are at home minding grandchildren on very little to eat in
ramshackle huts,There is today a vast gap between the government and the
masses of the people in this country. This unfortunate gap is growing wider
every day." He called upon us with his eloquence of great sincerity to put
our shoulders to the wheel and work for the development of the people ,the
real development of their culture. He besought us not to desertJamaica for
the greener fields outside our borders, Manley taught by his own example
and had the gift of attracting around him men of sterling quality and
allegiance.He imbued those who had the privelege of hearing or knowing
him with a strong sense of national pride.
It is a good thing to be able to record the great things done by our
own, to bring forth to the public our own great sons. To record the facts of
our own history as seen and written by ourselves. There is an old Swahili
saying that "The truth will never be known until the Lion writes his own
history. Until then the Hunter will always be king. We owe a deep sense of
gratitude to Jacki RANSTON who did a marvellous piece of research to
produce this book which is a must in the library of all well thinking
Jamaicans. I am glad to see that the West India University Press and Ian
Randle's Press are bringing out some much needed jewels of learning in
these times. This book on Manley tells of a man who makes us proud to
associate with him as a fellow Jamaican. He has cast a lustre on its name.He
has earned many honours bestowed upon him by many countries. The one
that in my mind fits him best is that he was a GOOD JAMAICAN,
