Thursday, August 27, 2020

His first job in Toronto was at the Parker Pen factory and then as a summer fishing guide at the Lake Louise Hotel, which fostered a lifelong love of fly fishing. He attended Queens University for one term, playing tennis for the university, but decided to return to Jamaica with a keen excitement to get a start in business. Following a six-generation family tradition of shopkeeping in Montego Bay, Tony began work with his father in Hart’s Hardware Store. In 1951, he met the president of Capitol Records, on Doctor’s Cave Beach, who suggested he get into the record business. Following this advice, he founded Jamaica’s first record manufacturing company, Records Limited in Kingston. While working in Kingston, Tony negotiated the rights to a subagency for the dealership of Ford cars and founded NIG (Northern Industrial Garage) in Montego Bay. After expanding and establishing branches in St Ann’s Bay, Savanna-la-Mar and Bogue, 80 per cent of all the cars sold in the west of Jamaica were Ford automobiles. Later, he expanded the business to include the franchise for Avis Jamaica. Tony’s most significant business accomplishment was the development of Montego Freeport, a deepwater harbour in Montego Bay. The completion of the project would demonstrate his tenacity and true mettle and, after considerable challenges, the Government finally approved the project in 1967. His lifelong dream was fulfilled when the first cruise ship, Sunward of Norwegian Cruise Lines, arrived in 1968. The Freeport development, the largest of its kind in Jamaica at the time, ultimately led to the creation of 350 acres of land and four ship berths, and is now home to a booming industrial estate, a free zone, upscale residential complexes, numerous resort offerings, a beach club and the Montego Bay Yacht Club. From 1980 to 1989, Tony was chairman of the national airline, Air Jamaica. His tenure was noteworthy as he restored the airline to profitability. In addition, he brought the world’s fastest commercial plane, the Concord, to Jamaican skies, tripling business on the New York leg. Tonywas also an accomplished farmer, owningmany properties across the island at various times through his life. He purchased and restored the Covey and Good Hope properties in Trelawny, now the parish’s premier resort attraction. He also owned Chippenham Park farm for cattle rearing; the 1,000-acre Woodstock farm in Westmoreland, also for cattle; a small citrus farm in Cambridge, St James; a joint venture fish farm at Brumdec, and banana farms including Virgin Valley, Laden and a property at Springvale on the St James/Trelawny border, which he converted to sugar cane production. INVOLVED IN POLITICS In addition to business, Tony was heavily involved in politics and service to Jamaica for much of his life. He started in public life in 1959 as the campaign manager for Dr Herbert Eldemire, who was elected to Parliament in 1962 and later became the minister of health. Tony became a parish councillor for six years and then ran for Parliament for the Jamaica Labour Party in 1972, but lost the election in the landslide that brought Michael Manley to power. He served as the chairman of the Coconut Industry Board, Caymanas Track Limited and the Montego Bay branch of the Branson School of Entrepreneurship, mentoring many graduates of the school. Tony undertook the massive renovation of Doctor’s Cave Bathing Club, which was given to Montego Bay by his great-grandfather, Alexander McCatty. The club is now a thriving attraction in Montego Bay and revenue from its operations funds many charitable causes throughout St James. In retirement, Tony took on the financial support and mentorship of several preparatory schools. One of these, St Mary’s Preparatory School inMontpelier, St James, grew from 70 to 430 students with his help and gained tremendously in academic status. He was passionate about mentoring the next generation of Jamaicans and has always generously given his time and guidance to all who asked. Tony received many awards, including Jamaica’s third- highest honour, the Order of Jamaica. He was the first person from western Jamaica to be inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, having also graced the walls of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has been an honouree of the American Friends of Jamaica and has received honorary degrees from The University of the West Indies, University of Technology in Kingston, and the Northern Caribbean University. Tony was known for his love of family, for his vision and most of all, in spite of all of his accomplishments, for his humility. THE GLEANER, THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2020 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | TRIBUTE TO ANTONY HART FEATURE C4 HART CONTINUED FROM C2 Tony Hart with his citation after being inducted into the PSOJ Hall of Fame. Tony’s most significant business accomplishment was the development of Montego Freeport, a deepwater harbour in Montego Bay. TRIBUTE TO Antony ‘Tony’ Hart CD., J.P. Mr. Antony Hart, was a visionary philanthropic architect, whose passion and foresight preceded his time and transcended the ordinary. Credited with pioneering the infrastructural framework and development of numerous innovative businesses in various sectors that have had a significant impact on the Montego Bay community and Jamaica, by extension, Mr. Hart has left us a remarkable legacy and blueprint for the future of this city. His notable contribution to the development of Montego Freeport is one of many instances where Mr. Hart and the Montego Bay Free Zone are inextricably linked. This manifested in him also being a business operator within the Free Zone and a staunch supporter of many initiatives that have bolstered the growth and development of the entire Montego Freeport community. He made an indelible impact on our lives and his many contributions to nation-building and the evolution of Montego Bay, in particular, places him in the pantheons of revered and respected sons of our city. From the Board of Directors and Staff of the Montego Bay Free Zone Company May his soul rest in peace as his legacy lives on