Devon Dick | Name highway after Nanny

The controversy surrounding the naming of the North South Highway after former prime minister Edward Seaga has raised issues concerning the process and rationale of naming buildings and places. If Seaga were opposed to the erection of the highway, then it would be incredulous to name it after him. In fact, he gave a reasonable rationale for his objection, that is, priority should be given to local roads. His rationale was valid then and perhaps more valid now. Seaga was not begrudging the citizens the highway, but he would have spent the money differently.

Perhaps it would be better to name the North South Highway after National Heroine Nanny of the Maroons. Nanny of the Maroons was a fearless freedom fighter, insightful leader and smart negotiator. While the Western Maroons signed the ill-advised Peace Treaty with the oppressive British, Nanny in the East was reluctant to sign it and did so some time later, which is to her eternal credit and enduring legacy.

For the male national heroes there is Norman Manley Airport and Norman Manley Law School; Bustamante Highway, Bustamante Bridge and Alexander Park; Marcus Garvey High School; Sam Sharpe Square and Sam Sharpe Teachers' College; Gordon House, the Parliament named after George William Gordon; Paul Bogle High School and Paul Bogle Training Centre. However, there is nutten named after Nanny. I consulted a Maroon scholar and was told that Nanny Town was from the 18th century and Nannyville, the housing scheme in the vicinity of the National Stadium, was not named after her.

Furthermore, some men have got some prominent buildings and places named after them. There was Howard Cooke Primary School and Howard Cooke Highway even before Sir Howard Cooke became governor general. There are many things named after former Cabinet ministers such as Winston Jones Highway and School, AGR Byfield Highway, Robert Lightbourne High School, Aabuthnott Gallimore High School and Pearnel Charles Arcade. There is the Sangster International Airport (former prime minister) and the Ian Fleming Airport (famed British writer). There is PJ Patterson Highway, Nelson Mandela Park and Mandela Highway. There are buildings named after Michael Manley (NHT) and Edward Seaga (HEART/NTA). There is the Hugh Lawson Shearer Trade Union Centre. There is William Knibb High School, Bishop Gibson High, DeCarteret High School named after clergymen. And we could go on.

Gender imbalance

One can count the number of prominent buildings and places named after women. Among those are the Edith Dalton High School and Merlene Ottey High School and the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre and the Louise Bennett-Coverley All-Age School, named after our cultural icon, Miss Lou.

Furthermore, just as how there is a committee that deals with National Honours there should be a committee that handles the naming of buildings and places after people. The naming of prominent public buildings and places is a very high honour on par with Order of Merit and just below the Order of National Hero. There should therefore be known criteria and procedure. The mandate for this committee could also include the renaming of places and buildings to reflect that Jamaica became independent in 1962. Additionally, it should reflect our ethos, our identity and our aspirations.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in naming the highway after National Heroine Nanny, would remove the controversy, take it out of partisan political consideration, facilitate equity among the seven national heroes and also address the gender imbalance.