Devon DickTHE HONOURABLE Hector Wynter's last official visit to the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) was on December 14, 1999, when the JNHT Board of Trustees invited him to a function to honour past chairmen. He was present along with past chairmen Ainsley Henriques and St. Clare Risden. He made a lasting impression on me with his graciousness and demeanour. He has also made a lasting impression on the Trust during his tenure as chairman from 1982-1986. The JNHT, therefore, has a deep admiration for his numerous accomplishments through his appreciation of Jamaica's cultural treasures.
It was under his leadership that the National Trust Commission Act of 1956 was repealed and revised, making way for the formation of the present Jamaica National Heritage Trust as a statutory entity in 1985. He also oversaw the relocation of the Trust offices to the historic Headquarters House at 79 Duke Street, placing staff in an atmosphere much more suited to the nature of the work being carried out. The present Board is building on that foundation by refurbishing the Annex so that the Archaeology division that is situated in unsuitable conditions in Port Royal can be relocated to Headquarters House.
In November 1983, he introduced the formation of Parish Committees that served as watchdogs for the Trust in protecting Jamaica's national sites and monuments. Today, these committees are called Parish Heritage Foundations and they act as guardians at the local level to safeguard our heritage.
Mr. Wynter appreciated the value of historic sites such as 24 Tucker Avenue where National Hero Sir Alexander Bustamante once lived, and Liberty Hall at 76 King Street, headquarters of National Hero Marcus Garvey's UNIA. It was under his stewardship that the JNHT acquired these sites.
He also placed a great deal of importance on symbolism, hence his move to acquire and restore the piano on which the National Anthem of Jamaica was composed. It now stands proudly in the Legislative Chambers of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust's office.
He believed in the benefits of being well educated. Through his personal influence and his knowledge of Jamaica's art and culture, he persuaded Moulton Barrett, an Englishman and descendant of the Barrett family of Trelawny, to fund and establish the first chair in archaeology at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
As Jamaican's resident representative to UNESCO, he obtained a grant of US$10,000 from that organisation to translate and publish "Jamaica Espanola", a book written about the Spanish occupation of Jamaica by Professor Morales Padron. Professor Patrick Bryan recently translated this work from Spanish to English with help from the Spanish Embassy and later this year it will be published by Ian Randle Publishers.
Under his tenure, he also convinced the OAS to establish a training institute of Archaeology, Museology and Conservation in Port Royal. As a result, several workshop courses were conducted including a course in Museology that involved participants from nine English-speaking Caribbean countries.
Mr. Wynter's contributions to the development of the Jamaica National Heritage Trust were widespread and far-reaching. The Trust benefited greatly from his wisdom, shrewd advice, intellectual brilliance and wonderful personality.
My first association with Hector Wynter was not through the JNHT but was through the media when he was the Editor of The Gleaner. I wrote my first article on the issue of Sabbath-keeping, which he did not publish but what impressed me was that he returned it by mail to me in Sandy Bay, Hanover. He was a real gentleman.
My second encounter was in the 1990s, when he was at the Bustamante Institute for Public Affairs. In 1985, I had written my Caribbean Studies entitled, 'William Knibb: National Hero?' in which I had argued that William Knibb, for his contribution before and after emancipation, should be declared a National Hero in 1988 on the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery. I felt strongly about my thesis, and I sent it to him to read. He made some interesting suggestions on the script but the one I will never forget is the comment that I do not have to tear down the contribution of the other National Heroes to stake a claim for William Knibb. He was indeed a gentleman.
While at his funeral, I remembered a comment he made at the funeral of a past headmaster of Calabar, the Reverend William Foster. The person who preceded him in giving a tribute was on the lengthy side and he went up and said that he recognised that the person was giving eternal words but why did he have to take eternity to tell us!
He who believed in the preservation of national treasures is himself a national treasure. On behalf of the JNHT, I would like to express condolences to the family.
The Rev. Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church.
