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Top 5 Greatest Jamaican Leaders?

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  • Top 5 Greatest Jamaican Leaders?

    Well, I can safely say that, looking back months from now, we will see that World War III began with a simple thread on what I consider to be Jamaica’s “Top 5 Public and Private Sector Leaders.” But since the Third World War was inevitable anyway, it might as well begin in December 2012.

    Note: The five leaders below have been ranked alphabetically -- in other words, this is NOT a ranking according to their importance. I have also written a few sentences on each man as a reminder of their contributions to national life.

    Carlton Alexander (late CEO of Grace Kennedy& Co Ltd.)

    Marcus Mosiah Garvey (Pan-African leader)

    Robert Lightbourne (1960s minister of trade and industry)

    Norman Washington Manley (former Jamaican premier)

    Noel Nethersole (former minister of finance)

    CARLTON ALEXANDER: Selwyn Carlton Alexander was the long-serving CEO of arguably Jamaica’s most successful homegrown industry, Grace Kennedy & Co Ltd. He was also one of the masterminds behind the creation of the powerful Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ). Alexander served in a major capacity on a plethora of Jamaican organizations until his death in 1989 at age 73. The Grace Kennedy Foundation, which plays a useful role in education for Jamaica College students, was created in memory of this great Jamaican.

    MARCUS MOSIAH GARVEY: Although he lived much of his life outside of Jamaica, Marcus Garvey founded his famous Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in Jamaica sometime around 1912. In addition to his influential writings, Garvey’s 1919 Black Star Liner shipping company and the Negro Factories Association were visionary steps by this very outstanding leader, as was his newspaper, “Negro World,” which was started around 1918.

    There is absolutely no question that his impact on the world has dwarfed that of almost every other Jamaican who ever lived. In fact, Garvey’s Black Nationalism and Pan - African philosophies influenced black awareness and black pride in various countries during the first half of the twentieth century, creating a global impact in the process, and his ideas remain relevant to this day. Groups as diverse as America’s Nation of Islam and Jamaica’s Rastafarian movement have their roots directly in the teachings of Garvey.

    ROBERT LIGHTBOURNE: More than any Jamaican that I am aware of, this former minister of finance had a genuine passion for the industrialization of Jamaica. In fact, here is what Claude Clarke had to say about Bobby Lightbourne: “Although I was already committed to the idea of an industrialised Jamaica - in fact, it was my only reason for entering politics - I was further infected by Lightbourne's enthusiasm. He flattered me by expressing the belief that I might be able to play a role in advancing this goal if the PNP were elected in the upcoming elections, and even made an audio tape endorsing my candidacy. I never used the tape in my campaign but occasionally listened to it, especially at the times of my greatest frustrations in government. (Source: The Sunday Gleaner, April 5, 2009:http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090405/cleisure/cleisure2.html )

    NORMAN W. MANLEY, the founder of the PNP in 1938, was Jamaica’s premier from 1959 to 1962. This great scholar and legal mind not only worked tirelessly for the establishment of trade unions and auniversal adult suffrage, but he was also a strong supporter of regionalism via the 1958 West Indian Federation. However, he saw his dreams of a regional grouping disappear in the results of the 1961 referendum.

    Norman Manley’s contribution to Jamaican life is difficult to overstate! This man and his government set the economic agenda for Jamaica’s future when he established numerous statutory boards and government bodies to play an active role in industrial development. This national hero died in 1969 at the age of 76.

    Here is an excerpt from his last public address to an annual conference of the PNP: “I say that the mission of my generation was to win self-government for Jamaica.To win political power which is the final power for the black masses of my country from which I spring. I am proud to stand here today and say to you who fought that fight with me, say it with gladness and pride: Mission accomplished for my generation.

    NOEL NETHERSOLE: Like NW Manley, Nethersole was a Rhodes Scholar, and later became Jamaica’s minister of finance during the years 1955 – 1959. Although he never lived to see his dream child, the Central Bank of Jamaica (Nethersole died in 1959 at the age of 57), he nevertheless was the leader who foresaw the need for the establishment of a Jamaican stock exchange, a development bank and a central bank as essential instruments for the execution and management of a sound monetary policy. At the time of his death, his plans for the establishment of the Central Bank of Jamaica were well underway.

    Last edited by Historian; December 23, 2012, 10:47 AM.

  • #2
    Can't disagree with any of these picks. As an aside many labourites mistakenly believe that the stock exchange was started by Seaga and you can't tell them different. LOL.
    I am going to upset many and say I would place Michael Manley on that list. Me done put on mi iron shirt.

    Comment


    • #3
      The Grace Kennedy Foundation?
      The above may give some the impression that it aids only JC...it is a much more important entity than that...it plays a much wider role.

      Not for one moment saying you said it aided JC only!

      ----

      NW Manley's quote, I think, should never be left without his sayings/his charge on the mission of/to the next generation.

      In his last public address to an annual conference of the PNP, he said: "I say that the mission of my generation was to win self-government for Jamaica, to win political power which is the final power for the black masses of my country from which I spring. I am proud to stand here today and say to you who fought that fight with me, say it with gladness and pride, mission accomplished for my generation.

      "And what is the mission of this generation? ... It is... reconstructing the social and economic society and life of Jamaica". Norman Manley died on September 2. 1969.

      Source: http://www.jis.gov.jm/special_sectio...oes.htm#Norman
      Last edited by Karl; December 23, 2012, 03:47 PM.
      "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

      Comment


      • #4
        That foundation offers 1 JC student a scholarship annually I believe...in memory of or ordained by Carlton Alexander

        Recently Douglas Orane established an anneal scholarship for a Wolmers student (follow fashion )

        Notwithstanding those narrow concerns the foundation is generally devoted to national development...especially in education
        TIVOLI: THE DESTRUCTION OF JAMAICA'S EVIL EMPIRE

        Recognizing the victims of Jamaica's horrendous criminality and exposing the Dummies like Dippy supporting criminals by their deeds.. or their silence.

        D1 - Xposing Dummies since 2007

        Comment


        • #5
          lol
          TIVOLI: THE DESTRUCTION OF JAMAICA'S EVIL EMPIRE

          Recognizing the victims of Jamaica's horrendous criminality and exposing the Dummies like Dippy supporting criminals by their deeds.. or their silence.

          D1 - Xposing Dummies since 2007

          Comment


          • #6
            Oops, Major Error!

            I just read my post for the first time since starting the thread this morning, and so you can imagine the surprise I felt when I realized that I had erroneously credited the Hon. Robert Lightbourne as “Minister of Finance”!! Actually, Lightbourne was a Minister of Trade and Industry in the1960s JLP government.

            I apologize for this error.

            I must also confess that Robert Lightbourne might have been Number 1 on my list (despite my immense adoration for the very visionary Norman Washington Manley). Here, for example is an excerpt from an article on Robert Lightbourne by a no-holds-barred Jamaican writer, Louis E.A. Moyston:

            Western St Thomas and Robert Lightbourne

            Louis EA Moyston


            Wednesday, December 29, 2010

            “Many commentators have argued that Singapore and some other places were behind or even on the same level with Jamaica in the early 1960s and now they are ‘emerging economies’. For example, South Korea and Singapore jumped from Third World to First World in one generation, whileJamaica remains at the same level of underdevelopment. The answer may be this, in part: what if Robert Lightbourne had become the prime minister of Jamaica after the death of Donald Sangster?

            “It is interesting to ask why Mr Lightbourne was ‘prevented’ from becoming the leader of the JLP and prime minister to fill the vacancy created by the death of Donald Sangster. Who was behind the conspiracy? Who celebrates the life and times of this great Jamaican? Can you imagine a Jamaica under the leadership of Lightbourne in the first decade of independent Jamaica? His contribution to Jamaica was monumental and as such he deserves greater recognition and respect.”

            My source: The Jamaica Observer, Wednesday,December 29, 2010:
            (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Western-St-Thomas-and-Robert-Lightbourne_8231417)

            By the way, and in addition, Lightbourne was the person chiefly responsible for creating the music for our Jamaican National Anthem (although the history of our National Anthem is a bit more complex than this, something I explained in some historical detail in a post I made earlier this year).

            We made a huge mistake in ignoring Robert Lightbourne, and even to this day our country is still paying the price!

            Comment


            • #7
              Mine:

              Mills
              Franno
              Fudge
              Ziadie
              Jackie Bell.

              Mi done chat!

              Comment


              • #8
                Marcus Garvey
                Dr. Joyce Robinson
                • Don't let negative things break you, instead let it be your strength, your reason for growth. Life is for living and I won't spend my life feeling cheated and downtrodden.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Assasin View Post
                  Marcus Garvey
                  Dr. Joyce Robinson
                  What!!

                  No Ed Bartlett???... Well yuh ave tree more chice
                  TIVOLI: THE DESTRUCTION OF JAMAICA'S EVIL EMPIRE

                  Recognizing the victims of Jamaica's horrendous criminality and exposing the Dummies like Dippy supporting criminals by their deeds.. or their silence.

                  D1 - Xposing Dummies since 2007

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Bob Lightbourne is indeed an unsung hero. Heard a lot about him growing up in St Thomas.

                    That Goodyear factory employed many if not most of my friends parents and was seen as the place to work if you were a skilled blue collar worker. Then along came Lambert Brown and the rest is history.

                    We have certainly made the bed that we now lie in. Horrible choices in political leadership for most of the 50 years of independence.
                    "‎It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men" - Frederick Douglass

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      4 years of good tourism leadership doesn't make you the greatest leader. Check out Carol Bradley Guntley who has provided more than a 3 decade of tourism leadership.
                      • Don't let negative things break you, instead let it be your strength, your reason for growth. Life is for living and I won't spend my life feeling cheated and downtrodden.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        My mistake
                        TIVOLI: THE DESTRUCTION OF JAMAICA'S EVIL EMPIRE

                        Recognizing the victims of Jamaica's horrendous criminality and exposing the Dummies like Dippy supporting criminals by their deeds.. or their silence.

                        D1 - Xposing Dummies since 2007

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Good list, but you probably should replace Nethersole with Hugh Sherlock.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Lambert Brown had followers....no?
                            The workers decided to go down the road they did...

                            Reminds of, among others, the J.O.S. demise. ...and the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth when it closed.
                            "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Don1 View Post
                              That foundation offers 1 JC student a scholarship annually I believe...in memory of or ordained by Carlton Alexander

                              Recently Douglas Orane established an anneal scholarship for a Wolmers student (follow fashion )

                              Notwithstanding those narrow concerns the foundation is generally devoted to national development...especially in education
                              http://www.gracekennedy.com/corporat...edy-foundation

                              Perhaps, Islandman can bring you up-to-date on awards to Mannings students!
                              "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

                              Comment

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