The Most Honourable Michael Manley- The Political Hostilities of the Manley Era-1970s

According to The People's National Party Facebook page today, March 6, 2016 marks nineteen years since the death of The Most Honourable Michael Manley, former Prime Minister and leader of the People's National Party at the age of 72. The Facebook page went on to state that Comrade Michael "Joshua" Manley legacy lives on. He lived a life of passion for people, progress, equality and Justice.

Focusing directly on the Manley Era, there was extensive conflict in relation to politics in Jamaica. According to michaelmanley.org Manley entered representational politics in the 1967 general election, winning the Central Kingston constituency. After his father’s retirement, he comfortably won the People’s National Party (PNP) contest for party leadership. He was consequently appointed Leader of the Opposition. Manley zeroed in on the failings of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration, which had held the reins since independence in 1962. He inveighed against social injustice and inequality, which, he claimed, pervaded Jamaica.

Economic conditions in Jamaica deteriorated in the 1970s. Amid accusations of destabilization by the CIA, the IMF, foreign investors, the US media and opposition, politically motivated violence escalated, worsening an already problematic situation. Crime and violence was rampant. In June 1976 Mr Manley, in response to popular demand, declared a state of emergency during which there was some curtailment of civil liberties, including detention of scores of alleged troublemakers.

But how much do we know about political hostilities? Is this the point in time that political violence in Jamaica began?

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