THE EDITOR, Sir:

Dr Heather Little-White Watson was a lady of remarkable accomplishments. We both shared a special connection through our common attachment to the same primary school in Somerton, St James, albeit at different times, where her late mother, Rubertha Rebecca Little-White, was a teacher.

When I had the privilege of sending a tribute to Mrs Little-White's funeral, Heather sent me a glowing letter of appreciation which I shall treasure always. But that was just like Heather. It is exactly the kind of person she was, generous, caring, passionate, courageous, determined and optimistic. She was, of course, also brilliant.

She was first the co-convener and then the convener of the Values & Attitudes programme which I created and this was a role to which she was perfectly suited. Her strong sense of morality, her belief in family life and doing things the right and proper way, and her need to effect social change made her a role model to all who knew her.

She was, in fact, a woman of great faith. She was also a tremendous organiser and a world-class manager with an enormous capacity for hard work.

A journalist and motivational speaker, Heather made disabled rights a special priority since being disabled herself in a vicious criminal attack in 1999, and was an honorary member of the Combined Disabilities Association.

Subsequent to her mother's passing, I have had a significant amount of interaction with Heather. I had the privilege of being, I believe, one of the last persons to speak with Heather before she entered the Kingston Public Hospital's Intensive Care Unit. Her voice was weak and faltering, but she still sounded positive and optimistic and clearly had not lost an iota of her remarkable courage.

Her passing is a great blow to Jamaica and to the many communities which she represented: the disabled community; the food and nutrition community; the media fraternity; the values and attitudes community; and the teaching community.

Heather, we shall always love you, remember you and honour you. Your place in Jamaica's history will remain secure as long as well-thinking people live.

My profound sympathy goes to her husband Peter, brother Lennie, and other members of the family, as well as friends and supporters of Dr Little-White Watson.

P.J. PATTERSON

Former Prime Minister