In the Author's Own Words

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I started writing short stories, articles, movie reviews, stage show reviews, news reports, and articles,  at the age of 17 in the Gleaner, and later The Star. I was encouraged by four persons at the time – T.E. Sealy, Vic Reid, Roy Coverley and Joe Lewis.

Some of these short stories were broadcast by the BBC. One was published in the “Independence Anthology of Jamaican Literature” with authors such as Vic Reid, Roger Mais, and John Hearne. It was also published in an English text book, “Strange Stories” for Hunter College of the New York City University. Other writers in this book included Dorothy Sawyers and Ray Bradbury.

I was invited by Hal Glave and A.E.T. Henry to join the staff of the Government Public Relations Office, the precursor of the Jamaica Information Service, when it was formed in 1956. Two years later I was assigned as Press Officer to Norman Manley, writing briefs, messages, news releases, and arranging News Conferences, etc.

In 1965, Donald Sangster became Acting Prime Minister. Leslie Bennett from the JIS was assigned to him as Press Officer while he was Deputy Prime Minister. Just then he had to take a long vacation leave and Sangster requested that I should become his Press Secretary. When he died, Hugh Shearer asked me to continue in this office.

During the time I was with the JIS, I stopped writing for the Gleaner as I felt there could be a conflict of interest in writing for one news medium yet having to serve others – Jamaica Times, Public Opinion, West Indian Economist, Spotlight, Newday, Radio Jamaica, JBC, etc.

I resumed writing for the Gleaner when I retired from the public service in 1981 and have been doing so since then except for a break of nine years while I was Communications Consultant to the People’s National Party, and subsequently Special Adviser (Communications) to Prime Minister Michael Manley, as well as  his Press Secretary.

I have also written the biographies of Hugh Shearer and Donald Sangster.

Chronology


HARTLEY NEITA O.D., Commander.1929 to 2008

BORN:   December 29, 1929

EDUCATED: Jamaica College (1942 to 1946)

CAREER:
  • Columnist, The Daily Gleaner and The Star, 1948 to 1956
  • Information Officer, Government Public Relations (GPRO),1956 to 1957
  • Press Officer to Hon. Norman Manley, 1957 to 1962
  • Assistant Director, Jamaica Information Service 1962 to 1965
  • Press Secretary, Hon. Donald Sangster, 1965 to 1967
  • Press Secretary, Rt. Hon. Hugh Shearer, 1967 to 1972
  • Executive Director, Jamaica Information Service,
  • 1972 to 1974 (name changed to Agency for Public Information)
  • Director, Domestic Marketing, Jamaica Tourist Board,1974 to 1977
  • Managing Director, Tourism Product Development Company, 1977 to 1980
  • Deputy Director, Jamaica Tourist Board, 1980 to 1981
  • Co- Director, Creative Projects Ltd. 1981 to 1985
  • Communications Director, People’s National Party,1983 to 1989 (on secondment)
  • Special Adviser (Communications & Culture) and Press Secretary to Rt. Hon. Michael Manley, 1989 to 1992
  • Managing Director, Things Jamaican Ltd., 1992 to 1995
  • Author of two biographies: Hugh Shearer (published 2005) and Donald Sangster (to be published in early 2012).
  • Author of “The Search”,  an account of the search for five Jamaica College students who went missing in the Blue Mountains in 1939.
  • Author of several short stories, published in Jamaica and overseas.
  • Columnist in The Gleaner since 1996 when he authored the series “Historical Highlights”, then created the series, “This Day in Our Past”. (still being published by the Gleaner).