The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) an Agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (MCGES), commemorated

the 106th anniversary of the birth of the Most Honourable Sir Howard Felix Hanlan Cooke, ON, GCMG, GCYO, CD, Former Governor General of Jamaica, by laying a floral arrangement on his tomb at the National Heroes Park in Kingston on Saturday, November 13.

The floral tribute was laid by Senator the Hon. Thomas Tavares-Finson, President of the Senate; while Mr. Alberto Cooke - grandson of Sir Howard Cooke and Mrs. Marjorie Leyden-Kirton, Acting Executive Director at the JCDC were also in attendance.

The Most Honourable Sir Howard Cooke was born in Goodwill, St. James, on November 13, 1915 to parents David Brown Cooke and Mary Jane Minto. He was educated at Mico College and London University. He served as a teacher for 23 years, starting at Mico College and Practising School, and he later served as headmaster at Belle Castle All-Age School, Port Antonio Upper School and Montego Bay Boys’ School. He was a member and former president of the Jamaica Union of Teachers.

Sir Howard Cooke entered politics in 1938 as one of the founding members of the People’s National Party and held the positions of chairman and also a member of the Executive and National Executive of the Party. He entered the Jamaican Parliament in 1962 and served as Senator until 1967. He served as a member of the House of Representatives between 1967 and 1980, and was a Minister of Government between 1972 and 1980. As Minister, he held, at different times, the portfolios of: Pension and Social Security, Education, Labour and Public Service. He was president of the Senate from 1989 to 1991 and served on the Executive of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Sir Howard Cooke was installed as Governor-General of Jamaica on Thursday, August 1, 1991.