I met Hartley Neita when I served in the early 1970s as an adviser to the then prime minister, Michael Manley. He was often present when the Rev Sam Reid and I conferred with the prime minister on a number of issues related to national development.

Hartley was passionate about national sovereignty, national development, journalism and a place called Four Paths. An unapologetic nationalist, he was impatient with Jamaicans who were apprehensive about the ability of the Jamaican people to make it as an authentic political entity without the sponsorship of 'Mother Britain'.

Of course, being a very disciplined person, he was always very restrained in his criticism of those who are afflicted with the 'fear of freedom'.

He was always hopeful about the arrival of the time in our history when there would be no more talk about the 'good old days' when we were protected from ourselves by those who were incapable of error.

Disliked sloppiness

A journalist who insisted on the sanctity of his vocation, Hartley was angry with his colleagues whom he considered too often careless about accuracy in the reporting of events, sloppy in respect of literary style, the reporting of facts, and objectivity.

He insisted that proper records be made and preserved, especially of the utterances of public figures like political leaders, and this, for the benefit of posterity.

An attribute of this public servant that is worth noting was his loyalty to whomever was his boss at Jamaica House. As press secretary, he served neither the party in power nor the one in Opposition, but, rather, the Office of the Prime Minister, hence his ability to write with objectivity about all of them.

Hartley was as nostalgic about Four Paths as he was about his alma mater, Jamaica College. Of course, he was unapologetic about crediting his father with being the person most responsible for much of the achievement of that significant mid-town community.

The elder Neita was principal of the local primary school when many of the outstanding sons and daughters of the village were at that crucial stage of their intellectual development.

Proud of his family

In the last 10 years or so, Hartley was preoccupied with concern about the atmosphere in which his grandchildren and their peers were being formed. He was proud of his family and the last time I saw him he was, like me, trying to get on to the premises of the school where we both went to pick up grandchildren in mid-afternoon on week days.

Veteran journalist, patriot and historian, Hartley Neita came into our world, learned about it, served it, loved it, recorded what he saw and thought of it and has now left it, hopefully in better shape (in some respects) than when he entered it.

He is now among those who watch what we do from the pavilion. He, who has been our sibling, parent, colleague, friend and neighbour, is now one of our revered ancestors.

I am, etc.,

(REV) ASHLEY SMITH

Hope Pastures

Kingston 6