'Hugh's Rules' - Hart remembered as towering figure in Jamaican life

From Cabinet minister and accomplished attorney to mentor, negotiator, and trusted adviser, Hugh Hart was remembered yesterday as a towering figure in Jamaica's public and professional life, whose legacy will endure long after his passing.

Hart, who died in April at age 96, was accorded an official funeral at the University Chapel on the Mona campus of The University of the West Indies, where political leaders, legal luminaries, business executives, family members, and friends gathered to celebrate a life of service that spanned law, politics, business, and national development.

Throughout the service, speakers returned to themes of integrity, humility, patriotism, and mentorship, describing Hart as a man whose influence extended far beyond the offices he held.

Among them was Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange, who described Hart as belonging to a generation of nation builders distinguished by intellect, loyalty, and relentless discipline.

"There are some people who enter a room casually and go unnoticed; not so with Hugh Hart. His aura filled every space that he occupied. His personality exuded warmth and confidence, an image of a dignified man with a passion for people and their upliftment," Grange told mourners.

She recalled serving alongside Hart in the Senate and described him as a sharp-witted professional, gifted negotiator, and consummate dealmaker who approached public service with a deep sense of duty.

"I had the honour of sitting next to him in the Senate. His path through life led him to the hallowed halls and great palaces of the world, but he took it all in stride as he found peace among the trenches of his beloved Jamaica and on the streets of Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston, beside Edward Seaga," she said.

Describing Hart as "a man with a great heart", Grange said he never lost sight of the people he served.

"He understood that the most important things in life were not material wealth. He was a sincere man, an unwavering friend, and a committed nation builder. He saw in every experience an opportunity to promote the development of ordinary people."

Grange also highlighted Hart's role in guiding Jamaica through difficult periods in the bauxite and energy sectors and pointed to his contribution to tourism development, including during the period when Jamaica achieved the milestone of one million stopover visitors.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding participated in the service, offering scriptural readings from Ecclesiastes and Romans, respectively.

Tributes from members of the legal fraternity underscored Hart's immense influence on the profession, while Donovan Walker, representing the Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Association, described him as a giant whose impact was felt throughout the region.

"The region stands better because of his masterful transaction and negotiation skills," Walker said, praising the clarity, practicality, and accuracy of Hart's legal advice in both the public and private sectors.

He described Hart as a mentor, friend, and trusted adviser who remained a steady hand during some of the region's most significant legal and commercial transactions.

A more personal portrait of Hart emerged through a tribute delivered by Tracy Long, a partner at Hart, Muirhead Fatta, who shared some of what colleagues affectionately referred to as "Hugh's Rules" — life lessons he dispensed to younger attorneys and friends over the years.

Among them were simple but enduring principles: work at what you love, inspire others, enjoy life, and never take yourself too seriously.

Long said Hart believed retirement was "overrated" and encouraged those around him to pursue work that brought them fulfillment rather than simply a pay cheque. He also challenged colleagues to mentor others and leave people better than they found them.

"Inspire others" was one of the rules he returned to repeatedly, she said, recalling that Hart was generous with his time, encouragement, and advice.

Long drew laughter from mourners as she recounted some of Hart's more colourful observations, including his fondness for his pipe and his tongue-in-cheek advice not to listen too closely to doctors.

Beneath the humour, however, was a man who approached life with enthusiasm and perspective, believing that professional success meant little if it was not accompanied by joy, friendship, and service to others.

The service also reflected on Hart's spiritual life and the values that guided him.

Delivering the homily, Reverend Canon Garth Minott urged mourners to place their trust in God, emphasising the importance of unconditional love, forgiveness, and faith during times of hardship.

Drawing on the imagery of hurricanes Gilbert, Ivan, and Melissa, he said that just as trees require deep roots to withstand powerful storms, people need a deep spiritual foundation to endure life's challenges.

"Without God, we are akin to beautiful cut flowers that will only last for a while," he said.

Hart was widely regarded as one of Jamaica's leading commercial attorneys. He founded Hart, Muirhead Fatta, which grew into one of the country's premier commercial law firms.

His public service career spanned more than a decade in the Senate, where he served from 1980 to 1993.

During the Seaga administration, he served as minister of mining and energy from 1983 to 1989 and as minister of tourism from 1984 to 1989, helping to shape policy in two sectors critical to the Jamaican economy.

Beyond Cabinet, he chaired several major national institutions, including the Jamaica Bauxite Institute, the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, and the Bauxite and Alumina Trading Company.

corey.robinson@gleanerjm.com