By Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
Harper
MOST OF the high commissioners to Jamaica are from countries outside the Caribbean. Only two are from the West Indies; Trinidadian Dennis Francis and Cedric Harper of St. Kitts and Nevis. We sat down with the Kittitian at his home in Golden Acres, Red Hills.
The jovial man related his life from the town of Cayon, five miles from St. Kitts' capital Basseterre, to his days as warden of Irvine and Taylor Hall at the University of the West Indies.
A teacher by profession, his first stint was at the Basseterre Boys' School in 1948. He was merely 17 years old. After attending teachers' college in Trinidad, he went on to become headmaster at the Gingertown Boys' School in Nevis.
The High Commissioner, who is still called 'Brother Harps' by his many friends, was quite the sportsman in his early days. He played cricket mostly, kicked around the football a bit and dabbled around in the swimming pool. But he is also very proud of his weightlifting. "I got to about 275 pounds and I had 18-inch biceps, a 53-inch chest and a 34-inch waist. I saw guys here in 1966 just lifting 350 pounds, when I used to lift that back in 1958."
UNIVERSITY LIFE
He attended the University of the West Indies, Mona, St. An-drew in 1959, taught in islands such as the Bahamas and returned here in 1967. He has not left since. He has fond memories of university life and meeting his wife Barbara is one of the major ones. Good thing Mary Seacole Hall did not have a cafeteria or he would not have spotted her in the Irvine cafeteria where he used to hang out.
He did his first degree in the arts, including Spanish which he had to learn from the basics, compared to other students who did it at 'A' levels. He caught on though with the help of such persons as Simon Clarke and having fulfilled all requirements, did his second degree in economics.
He never stopped teaching and his repertoire eventually included the field of law. He was a tutor at the Norman Manley Law School until two years ago. Such political luminaries as Dr. Ken Baugh, Dr. Peter Phillips and Dr. Paul Robertson all know the teaching of this man, whether in the classroom or outside it.
Brother Harps has two children, a son and daughter. His daughter acts as his secretary at his home/high commission while his son is in New York. He was appointed High Commissioner in 2001, but before that in 1993, he was named non-resident ambassador to Cuba. He tries to keep fit by swimming, walking (when his knee does not bother him) and he works with various organisations, including Family Life Ministries, FISH Eye Clinic and United Theological College.
He also likes to do a bit of travelling and would love to tour with the West Indies Cricket team when they go abroad. Admittedly a little slower now, he is immensely grateful for all he has. "I have been fortunate, I can't complain," he says.
