Jamaica’s leader of the opposition Mark Golding has committed to making Bob Marley a national hero if the People’s National Party (PNP) forms the next Government.
During his budget presentation on Tuesday, Golding said that Marley, a global icon, deserves to be Jamaica’s eighth national hero.
“One commitment that I have, which is in keeping with our seriousness about culture and the creative industries, when we form the next government, I commit to conferring the Order of National Hero on the Honourable Robert Nesta Marley for his service of a most distinguished nature in advancing Jamaican culture and his global impact as a liberating inspirational force for oppressed people across the world,” Golding said.
“I say time come to recognize the ‘Gong’ as a true national hero and confer the honor on him accordingly,” he added.
While promising that a future PNP government would focus on the creative industries, including increasing funding, Mark Golding commented on the Bob Marley ‘One Love’ biopic now in theatres worldwide.
“Speaking of the ‘One Love’ phenomenon now blowing like a natural mystic across the globe shows us what cultural and creative practitioners have been telling us for years. Nurturing and growing the cultural and creative industries, sports and their diverse ecosystems are extremely important for the economic development and cultural identity of Jamaica,” he said.
PM says hero status being considered for Marley
During the premiere of ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ in Jamaica in January, the question of whether Bob Marley would ever be made a national hero was posed to Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
Holness said that recognition for iconic personalities is something being considered.
“We did put together a committee to look at it [naming Bob Marley as a national hero], and believe me, there were commissions before that established a criteria for national hero. I think the conversation has so far evolved to having a category that identifies iconic personalities, people who have added great value to our countries. So there may be a designation. But, who knows, the conversation continues,” Holness said.
Jamaica currently has seven national heroes — Nanny of the Maroons, George William Gordon, Sam Sharpe, Paul Bogle, Marcus Garvey, Sir Alexander Bustamante, and Norman Manley. The list has not been updated since 1982.
Read more: Will Bob Marley ever get national hero status in Jamaica?
