Nearly two decades after his death, Michael Manley, Jamaica’s late former prime minister, is still admired and revered by one of the Caribbean’s most influential former prime ministers, Owen Arthur of Barbados–Erica Virtue reports for Jamaica’s Gleaner.

Arthur, who was a guest at a Gleaner Editors’ Forum last week, said he has paid careful attention to Manley’s thoughts and opinions in at least one book edited by late former University of the West Indies vice-chancellor, Professor Rex Nettleford.

For Arthur, Manley changed Jamaica through advocacy, and it is his view that the region did not need a cabal of leaders, but those who could advocate.

“I believed in Michael, when he was here, that he could change Jamaica by the power of advocacy. I have told people that the Michael Manley I see represented in the exchange of letters with Kari Levitt is the most remarkable politician in the…