Bob Marley - File

THE EDITOR, Sir:

It was the first time I recall celebrating the Hon Robert Nesta Marley's OM birthday and Ash Wednesday on the same day February 6. Over the years I have been quite baffled as to why the political directorate has not made Bob Marley's birthday a national holiday though his image is the most recognised in any country you go.

That's why I want to personally support the call to install Bob Marley as the next national hero.

Both national and international appeal by Bob Marley is far reaching and wide, from being an inspirational force to South Africans in the struggles against apartheid, the liberation of Zimbabwe and its people, to the stabilising force in the cold war era of the 70's between America and the USSR. He made political foes, The Most Hon Michael Manley and The Most Hon Edward Seaga join hands at the One Love Peace Concert in 1977 at the national stadium, just days after an assassination attempt on his own life.

At the fall of the Berlin Wall that divided East and West Germany, Marley's music was the motivational force that drove Germans to bring down the wall forming one united Germany. To be here in Jamaica and watch the Germans singing and chanting to the music of this great legendary Jamaican, I cried.

Even if our present day leaders fail to name him as the next national hero, I am confident future leaders will do it.

I am, etc.,

WAYNE A. HANCHARD

Greater Portmore

St Catherine