Oliver Fredrick Clarke

THE GLEANER, THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | E4 The Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Progressive Grocers of Jamaica Limited celebrate the life, work and achievement of an exemplary media pioneer, the late Honourable Oliver Frederick Clarke, O.J. Mr. Clarke was a visionary and business icon who had an indomitable drive for success. His unwavering commitment andsoundbusinessacumencontributed immensely to the fight for press freedom and media independence. Mr. Clarke was one of the founders of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) and served as the Chairman of the board for organizations such as the RJR Gleaner Communications Group, Jamaica National Building Society, JN Bank and the Jamaica National Group. We honour the vision and enduring legacy of this stalwart who has made an invaluable contribution to the growth of Jamaica’s media and national development. He has left an indelible mark on his business associates, the media fraternity and all those with whom he interacted. The Progressive Grocers Group is privileged and honoured to have been associated with such a consummate business icon of great integrity and character. We extend our deepest condolences to his bereaved family, friends, the RJR Gleaner Communications Group, business associates in the private and public sectors and the global media community. to give a helping hand or good advice to those in need. “I feel very honoured and privileged to have known and shared good relations with Oliver Clarke over many years. I am particularly grateful for the personal interest he showed in my overall well-being and in my work as high commissioner here in the UK. “This is indeed a sad loss of a giant and pacesetter in the development of modern Jamaica. We owe a great deal of gratitude to the Honourable Oliver Clarke for his unstinting and exemplary service to the government and people of our beloved island. “He has touched many lives and has left an indelible mark in all our hearts. He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, daughter, family and all those who cherished him. “On behalf of the staff of the Jamaican High Commission, the wider Jamaican and Caribbean community in the United Kingdom (UK) and indeed the Government and people of Jamaica, I convey heartfelt condolences to his widow Monica, daughter Maria Alexandria, the extended family and many friends and colleagues both in the private and public sectors.” SETH GEORGE RAMOCAN Jamaica High Commissioner to the UK I HAD the privilege of knowing and working with Oliver Clarke for over 15 years. For this entire time, he always seemed to have a twinkle in his eyes. He enjoyed life to the fullest – whether he was running the JN annual general meeting or discussing the latest Gleaner survey results, or just talking with you in his office. He was humble and unassuming. He would immediately correct someone who referred to him as Mr Clarke and tell them to please call him Oliver. Several times I was fortunate to have had dinner with him in London with some friends from his school days in the UK. Each was a memorable experience as they regaled each other with their schoolboy exploits. It was obvious that this son of Westmoreland was the leader of the pack. After dinner, he would often drive me back to my hotel in a ‘hot’ Volvo that had been the company car of one of the former JNworkers in London. He drove this car through the streets of London like a teenager with his first car. He enjoyed challenging you to support your beliefs. Despite his traditional education in accounting, I frequently wondered whether he wished he had been a prosecutor (after being expertly cross-examined by him myself, or watching the same occur with others). But once you gained his respect, he was your friend for life. He was frank – rather than talk in circles he would just tell you ‘no’. No matter how powerful he was, he would always answer your call, and when he told you he would do something, he did it. Some might say he was old-fashioned. I guess he was old-fashioned in many respects – and in the best of ways. It’s a shame that more of us aren’t as old- fashioned as he was. BILL JOHNSON billjohnsonpollster@gmail.com I T IS with deep shock that I learned of the passing of the Honourable Oliver Clarke, OJ. I have had the honour of working under his leadership and I found him to be honourable, trustworthy, conscientious and confidential. In my early years writing in THE STAR , when people were attacking me and quite disbelieving, Oliver Clarke stood up for me and insisted that I should be left alone because he had good reason to believe in my credibility. I can recall that a certain editor of The Gleaner confided in me that in a particular meeting, Mr Clarke declared, “leave Reverend Dumas alone”. I will never forget his kindness and sensitivity. He was a very wise and helpful individual and an astute and powerful media and business icon. There were times when I visited The Gleaner and even if I did not seeMr Clarke hewould hail me. Although he was an extremely busy professional, he was never too busy to stop and speak to me. Mr Clarke has assisted me personally in different ways and was an excellent role model for so many whom he led and with whom he came into contact. I greatly admired him and I will always cherish the fact that I knew him personally. I send condolences to his dear wife and child and all his relatives. May the good Lord be pleased to watch over his soul. REV DR AARON DUMAS A owerful media and business icon E He njoyed life to the fullest RAMOCAN CONTINUED FROM E2