THE HON. Hector Lincoln Wynter, O.J., was snatched from this world on December 31, succumbing to injuries he suffered in a traffic accident four days earlier. Thus ended the life of a Jamaican patriot, characterised by service to his nation and beyond.
Born in Cuba 76 years ago he was taken to Jamaica as a child and in his formative years was schooled here. An Oxonian, he was trained as an International Civil Servant at the United Nations in New York in 1953 and thus began a career that was as diverse as it was exemplary.
Opting for academia in the first 10 years of his career, Mr. Wynter, a Rhodes Scholar, who also attended Havana and London universities, served as Resident Tutor of the University of the West Indies, then as Senior Assistant Registrar, later becoming Director of Extra Mural Studies.
He then went into politics, serving from 1962-63 as one of the nation's first Senators in Independence, before entering the diplomatic service as Jamaica's High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago from 1963-64.
After a short return to academia as Registrar of the UWI, he returned to politics in 1965, serving first as Parliamentary Secretary for External Affairs and then as Minister of State for Education and later, Minister of State for Youth. In 1970 he was elected chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party.
His career took an exciting new path in 1974 when he was named Executive Editor of The Gleaner publications, serving as Editor-in-Chief from 1976 to 1985 when he retired. His experience in academia and in politics served him in good stead in this new role. His contribution to nation-building was deepened even more with his appointment from 1981-89 as Jamaica's Ambassador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) which he also served as Chairman of the Executive Board.
A well-travelled, well-read, gregarious man who was not shy to put forth his take on issues, Mr. Wynter, a fluent speaker of Spanish, gave of his experience and his vision, in several other areas.
He served as chairman or member of various boards, ranging from the Jamaica Library Board to the Social Development Commission; the Jamaica Broadcasting Commission to the College of Arts, Science and Technology (now the University of Technology); the Institute of Jamaica to the Jamaica National Heritage Trust.
His breadth of service also included the Caribbean Democrat Union and the Bustamante Institute of Public and International Affairs.
Teacher, politician, editor, international public servant, he gave a glorious life of service not only to Jamaica but to the wider world which he lived to see become a complex global village.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
