A defining quality of the men and women who gave birth to Jamaica’s modern political movement is their selflessness and unwavering commitment to the country’s development.

Indeed, these individuals were true patriots, who never gave a thought to personal reward for their sacrifice. For them, the ultimate prize was a sovereign nation in which individual were respected as equals and its people could live in peace and enjoy the fruits of their labour.

Sir Howard Felix Hanlan Cooke, Independent Jamaica’s fourth governor-general, was one of those eminent individuals.

Born in Goodwill, St James in 1915, Sir Howard signalled from his early years, his penchant for national service when he entered that most noble profession — teaching.

Although his time in the classroom spanned 23 years, he really never stopped teaching, because Sir Howard was firm in his belief that education was vital to the improvement of his fellow human being and to the development of his country.

As such, he spent his retirement years serving a number of universities and, as one of his relatives told this newspaper on Friday, he “still took his calls in the mornings [and] gave advice when requested”.

The huge and important 75-year-old organisation that is the People’s National Party (PNP) owes, in no small measure, its current influence and stature to its founders, one of whom was Sir Howard.

In fact, as is noted by former Prime Minister and PNP President PJ Patterson elsewhere in today’s edition, “Howard Cooke was the youngest member of that progressive group entrusted to draft the Constitution of the People’s National Party”.

We agree with Mr Patterson that Sir Howard’s “political eminence is beyond question”, because he not only contributed to the creation of a mass political movement, but he also helped to define it.

Of course, it was only natural that Sir Howard, after his involvement in the birth of our democracy, would serve in government, and as such was elected to the West Indies Federal Parliament in 1958.

In 1962, when Jamaica gained political independence, he was among the proud individuals who served in the Senate before making the transition to the House of Representatives in 1976 where he continued making his contribution until 1980.

Of course, during those years, he held a number of Cabinet portfolios, among them education, pension and social security, and labour and the public service.

That his passion for public service never waned when, on August 1, 1991, he was sworn in as governor-general — largely a ceremonial position — speaks to Sir Howard’s commitment to Jamaica. For he used that position to further establish Jamaica’s respect within the international community, which saw him being duly recognised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Jamaica, indeed, owes a great debt of gratitude to Sir Howard Cooke. The PNP has said it will announce soon, the most appropriate way to honour his memory. That is fine, given his contribution to the party.

However, we believe that the Government has a duty to protect his legacy.

May his soul rest in peace.