The launch was part of the Foundation's celebration of the 80th anniversary of Manley's birth.

In addition to using virtual reality to expose Manley's ideas to a larger audience, the site, www.michaelmanley.org, will also be a vehicle for overseas contributions to the Foundation's Endowment Fund, which was set up to raise US$3 million to continue its work in the spirit Manley's notion of self-reliance.

According to Foundation chairman Danny Roberts, the website was important as "the search for abolishing extremes of poverty and of establishing fuller social equality and justice has been inspired by ideas derived from Michael Manley".

In addition to the website, Roberts said, the former prime minister's writings would also be promoted through the Michael Manley Centre, which would be opened later this year "to provide new light and fresh outcomes to the basic challenges facing mankind for centuries".

The website, Roberts said, was the gateway to the international community and there had been a conscious effort to ensure that it "has been made accessible, the contents kept simple, and it should create a lasting impression from the user's first exposure".

The website launch, Roberts said, had been deliberately planned for the eve of Labour Day so that Michael Manley's basic philosophical thoughts about social justice, equality and the concept of Labour Day as depicting a labour of love and social utility would remain central in the Foundation's focus.

As part of the 80th anniversary celebrations, there will also be a rededication of the restored Michael Manley monument at National Heroes Park on Friday.
Meanwhile, entries for the Annual Michael Manley Award for Community Self-Reliance and the Michael Manley Essay Competitions will close on May 31.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20040524T030000-0500_60275_OBS_MICHAEL_MANLEY_WEBSITE_LAUNCHED.asp