Passers-by agree this is no way to treat a national hero. The statue of Paul Bogle in Morant Bay has been vandalised, allegedly by a man of unsound mind.

SOME PEOPLE may wonder if such a thing as national pride still exists.

Well, it seems to burn quite brightly in Morant Bay, St Thomas.

Recently, people realised that the statue of National Hero Paul Bogle was being vandalised, a huge hole now gaping in the back of it.

The damage is allegedly being done by a man of unsound mind. But residents are adamant that it cannot continue like this.

"This is a disgrace," fumed Lorraine Mill, who says she grew up in Morant Bay but now lives overseas.

"I remember when we had festival and those events, they were held right here," she said, pointing to the burnt shell that remains of the courthouse. The statue is literally right in front of the building.

Condemnation of damage

She told The Gleaner that Jamaicans abroad talk about their national heritage and symbols all the time.

"Where is our history? When tourists come to visit, these are the stuff we have to show them. I am mad about that," she continued, pointing at the hole, which now seems to be used as a small garbage bin.

"When I go back, I'm going to be talking about this," she said, before going off to see other parts of her hometown.

Mill wasn't alone in her condemnation of the damage to the statue.

"A eediat ting dat," shouted some schoolchildren as they walked past, peering up at the hole in Bogle's back. "Dem neva haffi duh di man suh!" shouted another group.

It seemed everyone who passed had something to contribute.

"A di mad man duh it," said one gentleman, who rode up on a bicycle. "Watch when mi ketch him!"

Bogle's statue and the old courthouse are two of the major historic attractions in the parish capital and are both, at the moment, in need of repair. Residents are calling on the parish council to do something so that their monuments won't deteriorate.

Note the contrast with the cannon, which is well kept, and the courthouse (in background), which remains in ruins.