NEWS: Manley Bust To Help Sell Brand Jamaica

Dr Omar Davies, minister of transport and works, and Rachel Manley, granddaughter of Norman Manley, view a bust in honour of the national hero at the Norman Manley International Airport Departure Lounge in Kingston.




The Airport Authority of Jamaica (AAJ) has promised to give airports in the island more of a cultural feel.

A few days ago, the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) unveiled the bust of National Hero Norman Washington Manley.

The move, the airport explained, was in keeping with the mandate of its umbrella organisation.

Alfred McDonald, senior director of commercial development and planning at the AAJ, voiced the same sentiment and said the event was a great accomplishment.

"The event is a great one in keeping with what we are doing here at Norman Manley to ensure the we have culture incorporated at the airport. After all, the Norman Manley International Airport is named after this great national hero, so having the opportunity to have this sculpture here is a great thing for us, and we pride Norman Manley as the uniquely Jamaican airport and, therefore, the persona of a national hero is quite fitting with what we want to do," he said.

According to McDonald, Jamaican airports are moving to establish Brand Jamaica within their environment through cultural displays.

"As airports, we feel that Jamaica is a great brand. People are attracted to Jamaica for this same reason, so you will see indications of our music, food and culture of Jamaica in our airports. That is what we want to do to sell Brand Jamaica. The end product of the bust is excellent, real good. I was there through the entire process and I think everybody is appreciating what we have done," he said.

The bust was designed by Nadine Yee and the NMIA team.

"They came up with the layout and we put it together. We wanted it to be warm and friendly and represent the stature of the man that it represents. It sits on local mahogany and it was all locally made, nothing imported," Yee said.

Omar Davis, who unveiled the bust, along with Manley's granddaughter Rachel Manley, described the Honourable Norman Manley as a scholar, athlete and a soldier.

Rachel Manley said "she felt proud to see the bust of her grandfather displayed at the airport".

"I feel enormous pride. It's wonderful to see my grandfather remembered with this magnificent bust of him. As children, we grew up with his face over our lives and it's wonderful to think that he is not only remembered in name, but his face will be erected at the airport as we pass by. He would be proud to be associated with a sense of the aspirations of Jamaicans as they travel and return to their homeland. After all, he was one of our leaders who contributed to making this our home," Rachel Manley said.