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Honours for Bolt more fitting for someone with a lifetime of distinction says Henry
Jamaicans have given mixed reactions to the announcement that Highway 2000 is to be renamed after athletic superstar Usain Bolt.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding told Parliament on Tuesday that the track star will also receive the Order of Jamaica, the country's fourth highest honour and will also appointed Ambassador at Large with full diplomatic status.
The news has however, not gone down well in some quarters.
Martin Henry, Lecturer in Communication Studies at the University of Technology believes the Government has acted prematurely.
According to Mr. Henry, some of the honours being bestowed on Mr. Bolt should be reserved for someone who has delivered a lifetime of distinction.
"Bolt is 23 years old, (anything can) happens over the next 40 years of his life in terms of future accomplishments which he may or may not have, in terms of future conduct which we hope will not deteriorate (and) in terms of the way he lives as a national icon. Certainly when you name outstanding things after outstanding people, you'll want this kind of high credibility factor to be retained," he said.
Name highway after P J Patterson
Mr. Henry added that Highway 2000 should have been named after its chief architect.
"A man named P. J. Patterson is the political architect of Highway 2000 and certainly from the political sphere, if anybody deserves to have their name attached to the highway it should be the retired politician, (who's) still fit and able but has a long track record of political accomplishments and who was the principal architect of this system," said Mr. Henry.
He added that the National Awards Committee should consider a new category to honour achievers like Usain Bolt.
Not yet a done deal
In the meantime, questions have been raised whether the Government has the legal authority to rename Highway 2000.
A political source told RJR News that the Highway is still under the control of the French firm Bouygues and permission may have to be sought in order for the name to be changed.
Bouygues is part owner of Trans-Jamaica Highway Limited which has a 35 year concession to develop Highway 2000.
On Tuesday night, RJR News spoke with an insider in the Ministry of Transport and Works who said legal advice will have to be sought on the matter.
Jamaicans have given mixed reactions to the announcement that Highway 2000 is to be renamed after athletic superstar Usain Bolt.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding told Parliament on Tuesday that the track star will also receive the Order of Jamaica, the country's fourth highest honour and will also appointed Ambassador at Large with full diplomatic status.
The news has however, not gone down well in some quarters.
Martin Henry, Lecturer in Communication Studies at the University of Technology believes the Government has acted prematurely.
According to Mr. Henry, some of the honours being bestowed on Mr. Bolt should be reserved for someone who has delivered a lifetime of distinction.
"Bolt is 23 years old, (anything can) happens over the next 40 years of his life in terms of future accomplishments which he may or may not have, in terms of future conduct which we hope will not deteriorate (and) in terms of the way he lives as a national icon. Certainly when you name outstanding things after outstanding people, you'll want this kind of high credibility factor to be retained," he said.
Name highway after P J Patterson
Mr. Henry added that Highway 2000 should have been named after its chief architect.
"A man named P. J. Patterson is the political architect of Highway 2000 and certainly from the political sphere, if anybody deserves to have their name attached to the highway it should be the retired politician, (who's) still fit and able but has a long track record of political accomplishments and who was the principal architect of this system," said Mr. Henry.
He added that the National Awards Committee should consider a new category to honour achievers like Usain Bolt.
Not yet a done deal
In the meantime, questions have been raised whether the Government has the legal authority to rename Highway 2000.
A political source told RJR News that the Highway is still under the control of the French firm Bouygues and permission may have to be sought in order for the name to be changed.
Bouygues is part owner of Trans-Jamaica Highway Limited which has a 35 year concession to develop Highway 2000.
On Tuesday night, RJR News spoke with an insider in the Ministry of Transport and Works who said legal advice will have to be sought on the matter.
mek PJ stay wich part im deh...nuff more peeple deserve dat more dan im.
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