Dear Editor,

Prominent Jamaican academic, political and current affairs commentator and newspaper columnist Martin Henry’s death is an enormous loss to the media landscape and the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech).

Henry was one of the country’s most outspoken, informed and well-respected newspaper opinion writers and public commentators. His commentaries were always spot on, fearless, well-balanced, and impartial. He was never one who took sides with any political party and his writings were always informed by accurate happenings within a framework of the facts. He always vociferously spoke out against flawed government policies, and whenever corruption was discovered he spoke out prominently against it.

Henry who held a senior position at UTech made a prodigious contribution to the university, specifically through his astute management and leadership of entrepreneurship projects, his distinguished work in promoting research and intellectual development, his noted and accomplished contribution to the Journal of Arts Science and Technology, his organisation of the Research and Technology Innovation Days, and, most recently, his tireless efforts and work with the UTech Press.

As an esteemed public intellectual, his long-standing contribution to Jamaica and national life will be remembered for decades to come, while his impressive work as chairman of the National Integrity Action was widely appreciated. He was a man of the highest character, morals and honesty, and was an eloquent speaker who always spoke with a high level of forthrightness which was admired throughout the media and the country.

Robert Dalley

Montego Bay, St James

beralley@hotmail.com