Former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson says Jamaica has lost one of its finest citizens through the death of veteran journalist and communications consultant, Hartley Neita.

"He was a public servant in the truest sense of the word and was motivated throughout his adult life by his fervent belief that to serve his country was a privilege," said Patterson in tribute to Neita.

The former media practitioner and Gleaner columnist died suddenly Friday morning after complaining of feeling ill. He was 78.

Patterson said that Neita exuded a strong love for country and people.

"His was the kind of patriotism that has been described as a patriotism that stands not simply for love of country, but one that stands for love of people," he added.

Sense of adventure

He said Neita enjoyed his life and lived it with intellectual curiosity and a sense of adventure that did not diminish with age.

Meanwhile, veteran journalist Barbara Gloudon said the suddenness of Neita's death made his passing even more painful.

In her tribute to him, she said: "Hartley and I were not only colleagues, we were friends for most of our lives. We shared not only professional moments but family time. He gave me the honour of being godmother to one of his much-beloved daughters."

Gloudon said she had her last conversation with Neita last Wednesday.

"We were planning to take another colleague friend to lunch so we could have a good labrish. Now the lunch date is off.

"I'll really miss him - his writings, his passion for things Jamaican, his sense of humour, his love of history, his cantankerousness (yes, there was some of that) - all these things that made him Hartley."