RETIRED distinguished public servant Dr Carlton Davis is this week scheduled to launch his autobiography, which former Prime Minister PJ Patterson describes as “an intriguing and authoritative chronicle of an era where colonial rule and the equation of class and colour determined the course and shape of a generation”.

Patterson, who will give the guest address at the launch on Thursday, March 7 at King’s House, the official home of the country’s head of state in St Andrew, provides an eloquent review in his introduction to the book
Carlton Davis — My Life.

“The depth and breadth of scholarly research and the provision of references only serve to highlight his encyclopaedic intellect and the formidable array of documents and memorabilia he must have accumulated over countless years,” states Patterson, who was chief executive during the majority of the years when Davis served as Cabinet secretary and head of the civil service.

Noting Davis’s “legendary contribution to public service”, Patterson says that the author, through “delicate literary understatements… releases a treasure trove of privileged information, from the inside, on negotiations and development concepts which have not hitherto been in the public domain, for example, Bauxite Levy negotiations in 1974, or the verbatim minutes of exploring the alumin[ium] regional smelter in Trinidad and Tobago”.

Equally effusive in his praise of the Ian Randle-published book, former Governor General Professor Sir Kenneth Hall says Davis gives “unique insights into the challenges faced and the innovative solutions employed to promote sustainable growth, local empowerment, and to transform Jamaica into a globally competitive player in the bauxite market”.

Adds Sir Kenneth in the foreword: “As Cabinet secretary we learn how he navigated the complex corridors of power with tact and integrity, offering invaluable guidance and support to successive governments. His keen understanding of policy formulation, his commitment to transparency, and his unwavering dedication to the principles of good governance earned him the respect and admiration of many of his peers.”

In the preface Davis explains that the seed of the autobiography was planted while he was in the process of writing a trilogy on Jamaica in the world aluminum industry.

“A number of persons suggested that when I was through I should consider writing about my life’s journey. Whilst I kept these suggestions in mind, I did nothing about writing my personal memoirs until the last volume of the bauxite trilogy was completed in 2011. Even then, before making a move, I canvassed the views of my late wife, Lastenia, and my brother, both of whom were supportive. Lastenia’s approval was given in her usual blunt style by admonishing me not to overwrite,” Davis states.

“Outside of these two close relatives, I consulted a number of professional colleagues, including the late former prime minister of Barbados Owen Arthur, and Dennis Morrison, both of whom were my colleagues at the Jamaica Bauxite Institute. They were quite supportive, and Arthur, in particular, agreed to write an introduction. However, his untimely death in 2020 put paid to this.

“With this general support, as the saying goes, ‘the ball was very much in my court’ to get on with the writing,” Davis shares.

In June 2008, at a function honouring Davis on his retirement, then Prime Minister Bruce Golding commended him for his “infinite patriotism to Jamaica”, which saw him dedicate 40 years’ service to the public sector.

Golding said that despite some of the challenges that Davis no doubt encountered during his tenure in the public sector, it was remarkable that he had remained all those years.

He said that Davis was not just working in the public sector, but he contributed significantly to improving the quality of the service by placing emphasis on efforts to modernise and improve efficiency in terms of the delivery of government service.