How many more national hero(es) would be named?

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves and at least one member of the National Heroes Advisory Committee differ on how many new national heroes they believe should be named.

At the Wreath Laying ceremony held at Dorsetshire Hill on March 14 to honour first national hero The Right Honourable {{more}}Joseph Chatoyer, former parliamentarian John Horne, who represents the New Democratic Party (NDP) on the Advisory Committee, said that it was his hope to see one person named national hero when the deliberations are completed.

“I am a believer in the democratic process, which implies utter objectivity in decision making. At this juncture I am able therefore to venture my own thoughts and those of the organization I represent in this matter without being too specific and without compromising or disrespecting the committee, its members and other parties connected therewith.

“It is my personal and fervent hope that next year we should have one only additional hero to whom we should pay tribute.

“One whose overall diverse and well varied contribution to his native land, whose efforts at improving his country’s lot surpass any other and therefore earn that person the right, the honour and distinction to be elevated to the status of national hero singly, as we continue to ponder the order in which others, if found to be truly eligible may be elevated,” Horne a former minister of education under the NDP, said.

The prime minister, during his delivery, indicated that there are four front runners and in his own opinion, they are all worthy of selection.

The front runners are Ebenezer T Joshua, Dr JP Eustace, Milton Cato, and George McIntosh.

“I hear one member of the committee say that he wants one, he didn’t say which one and he doesn’t want to tell tales out of school, but he prefaced it by saying that he believes in democracy, which is telling me that the committee wants more than one.

“But it would be undemocratic, to use the words of the Honourable John Horne, if we permit a recalcitrant minority to have its minority views imposed on the views of the majority.”

Earlier in the discussions for national hero(es), advisory committee member Jomo Thomas stepped down from the group, after Gonsalves delivered a lecture making the case for former prime minister Milton Cato to be named a national hero.