THE EDITOR, Sir:

Michael Manley was one of the better modern day political thinkers. He wanted his people to go back to basics and farm the land and encouraged the young to be involved in agriculture. During his tenure most of the persons who wanted to be productively involved in nation building could actually get a chance to hone their talents in whatsoever field of endeavour they prefered.

I remember as a youngster in the late '70s I wanted to attend the Jamaica School of Agriculture (JSA) due to the influence of the man and his vision.

The charisma that the man possessed was a motivation for young school leavers like me who saw an avenue to be a part of a productive workforce. Many youngsters were empowered by the man and his influence on their lives.

Those who were incapable of delivering themselves to produce effectively and efficiently were encouraged to join the Jamaica Movement for the Advancement of Literacy (JAMAL) programme.

This programme was used to help those who went through the formal school system without benefiting much. He encouraged the use of volunteers to man the programmes. There was a grand graduation in each parish capital and people would then embark on their varying career choices as a consequence.

maternity leave

Many youngsters do not know that they could not get maternity leave prior to the intervention of Michael Manley. When unmarried young ladies got pregnant while teaching they had to leave the classroom without any redress. This is why the maternity leave law came into effect due to this stalwart.

Poor people could acquire lands leased from the Govern-ment if it could be verified that the land would be utilised. The persons who owned the sugar factories in the Manley- led co-operatives were the workers. Workers getting a minimal earning were protected from exploitation by the Minimum Wage Act in all sectors. Sad to say some of these programmes had remarkable potential but were never monitored properly.

Michael, wherever you are today you must be singing and dancing with angels because your social reforms have touched the lives of every single Jamaican of our era - the dead, the living and those to come.

I am, etc.,

Paris Taylor (Mr)

paristaylor82@hotmail.com

Greater Portmore