The Cult of Michael Manley
A ‘cult’ is defined as ‘veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure’. A cult can also be defined as ‘a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person’ – the David Koreshes of the world come to mind. The devotion and excessive admiration of Michael Manley by those who, despite the readily available evidence, continue to defend his ‘legacy’ by definition are members of a Michael Manley cult. Many of the die-hard followers of Michael Manley are my age and we are dying out so eventually, the cult of Michael Manley will gradually cease to exist. As a former drinker of the Michael Manley Kool-Aid, I understand the reasons why some refuse to acknowledge and accept the reality of what Michael Manley’s term in office did to Jamaica. Manley had a charisma that was hard to resist. Combine that with his ability at oratory and a genuine concern for the people of Jamaica and he became irresistible to most of us alive at the time. Eventually, enough of us came to our s...