Hartley Neita I FIRST knew Deryck Rob-erts as 'Derek'. However, like so much of the life of this renaissance man, he was a dramatist. Hence the exotic name change.
He was one of a group of talented young writers and media liaison officers, men and women, recruited by John Pringle when this brilliant hotelier was invited by Tourism Minister Robert Lightbourne to lead Jamaica's tourist industry in the 1960s. This group included Winston Stona, Anthony Abrahams, Hope Sealy, Ed Kristler, Audrey Chong, Marcella Martinez, Myrth Swire, Lance Neita, Veta Williams, Marsha Robinson-Oakes; and Harry Knowles, Bernie Rickman, Terri Turner, Donny Dawson, Bobby Miller and John Lynch of the sales department, and others whose names have dimmed in my past. They were the early creators of stories of the tourism product which made Jamaica the number one destination for visitors in those years. There were also their elders like Fred Wilmot and Stu Sharpe.
Deryck, like his colleagues in the public relations department of the Board, were not just writers. They were also aficionados of art and craft, Jamaican cuisine, fashion, floral art, all aspects of sports, the theatre and music. They told the story of these aspects of Jamaica's culture and social dynamics to the world. Go now to their homes and you will find paintings by Kapo, Karl Parboosingh and Eugene Hyde and music albums by folk singer/guitarist Keith Stewart and Lord Laro. And they were as easily at home in the mansions of Jamaica's high society as in the hovels of the Jamaican peasantry, in the ambience of the Trident, Plantation Inn, Myrtle Bank and Tower Isle hotels as in the Shady Grove, Sombrero and Wickie Wackie nightclubs to which they took foreign travel writers and travel agents.
ADVERTISING AGENT
When Deryck Roberts wooed, he wooed. In later years when he became an advertising agent, he rented an advertising hoarding on the Constant Spring Road in St. Andrew on his wife's birthday and displayed a 'Happy Birthday' greeting from himself and their son Matthew! This was love power.
And on another birthday, he tried to rent the National Stadium at night in which he planned to set up a dining table for two, with candles and with a choir singing romantic songs as they dined. That did not happen; I forgot to ask him why. Maybe the Stadium authorities did not take him seriously, but then they did not know him. He was probably the last Jamaican romantic.
Clyde Hoyte, also a renaissance man, came here from British Guiana, although born elsewhere, over 70 years ago. He first came to public notice when he read the first-ever local news broadcast on the former Government radio station, ZQI, in 1940 from its studios on Seymour Avenue in Seymour Lands, St. Andrew. The news was provided by The Gleaner.
Three years later he was on the staff of Public Opinion newspaper and was suggesting a fund to assist the families of some children who were killed and injured by lightning in Vaughansfield, St. James. "It would go a long way towards island unity if the children of Kingston came to the help of the children of St. James. I suggest that each child bring anything from a penny upwards to his teacher," he wrote.
He was also an actor, dancer, composer and singer. Along with Jamaicans Tessa Prendergast, Vere Johns and Eric Coverley, he appeared in the movie 'Manfish' filmed in Jamaica and starring Jon Bromfield, Victor Jory and Lon Chaney. He also composed and sang the theme song for this movie.
In 1961, a group of Rastafarians and other groups interested in Africa, was sent by the Government to that continent. On their return, Hoyte asked one of the leaders, Mortimer Planno, if the opportunity was taken when they met Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia to ask him about his divinity. Planno replied he had not. Hoyte then asked what he would have said if the Emperor had denied he was divine. Planno answered. "I would have faced him and said, 'You Haile Selassie I, are God'."
RASTAFARIANS
Mr. Hoyte, who was then Editor of the weekly newspaper, Public Opinion, wrote the personal secretary of the Ethiopian Emperor asking him to say whether the Emperor considered himself to be God. "It was hoped that one of things which would have been achieved by the recent visit of the delegation of Rastafarians and African-based organisations, that the opportunity would have been taken to have this matter cleared up once and for all. So as a responsible newspaper we want you to ask His Imperial Majesty to let us know whether he considers himself to be God."
The Secretary replied shortly after to say that the Emperor wants the Rastafarians "to discard this belief that he Haile Selassie is God". This, of course, did not dispel the belief of the Rastafarian community.
Mr. Hoyte also wrote a history of the People's National Party which he asked me to edit some years ago. Unfortunately, it has never been published. He also taught young girls the art of embroidery and young boys skills in craft design and production. He received an award from the Press Association of Jamaica in 1984. Recently a group of Jamaican artists held a benefit concert for him. Among them were Karen Smith, the University and Carifolk singers, Peter Ashbourne, Jimmy Tucker, Della Manley, Ernie Smith and A.J. Brown.
His compositions include No Snow On Our Island, Have Faith which has been recorded by Jimmy Tucker, Daphne Walking, Sweet As A Dream, That All Be One and Heal Jamaica.
A remarkable, talented man.
May their souls be blessed forever.
