The steady progress in planned development can be traced to the clear vision of nationhood, which in 1938, gave birth to the People's National Party. This vision moved us from colonialism into political independence. In the 1950s, the first PNP government pioneered the education revolution that guaranteed access to the leading secondary institutions to the children of all Jamaicans.

This vision moved us to the fundamental, life-changing social advances of the 1970s and on to the current period, characterized by the modernization process and the laying of foundations for a transformed, wealth-creating economy.

The People's National Party is about meeting the challenges of the next leg of the journey to the status of a developed country. We start with a clearly defined sense of ourselves as a national family with a shared vision that inspires everyone to strive for the best for self and country.

With all Jamaicans, living and working together as 'One Jamaica, One Family, Shaping the Future Together', the goal is to arrive at the quality society of a developed country.

THE BIRTH OF THE PEOPLE'S NATIONAL PARTY

The People's National Party was launched at the Ward Theatre on September 18, 1938. The formation of the Party was the culmination of the efforts of several persons to harness the progressive ideas of the time and to push for self-government.

NORMAN MANLEY-MEDIATOR

1938, the centenary of the emancipation of slavery in Jamaica, had been a stormy year. During May, workers in the sugar industry, on the docks and many unemployed, demonstrated, marched and struck for more work, better working condition and more pay.

The events of May shook Jamaica and brought some to the realization that something had to be done. Norman Manley, offered himself as mediator between the workers and employers. He had some to realize that social work alone, however well planned, could not solve Jamaica's problem and that political action was needed as well.

Manley spent the last week of May interviewing worker delegates and having informal talks with the governor and employers. Through his efforts, Bustamante and St. William Grant, the labour leaders, were released from prison and the workers agreed to return to work after they were granted some concessions by the fruit and shipping companies and other employers.

At a press conference in late May, Manley reported that a number of committees were to be formed to propose solutions to some of Jamaica's pressing problems. He said that he hoped these proposals would be used as the "first planks in a platform for a genuine labour party".

Edna Manley, talking to Clyde Hoyt in 1983, said: "People often say that Norman was persuaded by someone to go into politics, but that just isn't so .. of course he was under pressure from many people, to take up the leadership of a political movement but in the end the decision would be entirely his."