Hundreds of people turned out at the Spring Gardens Moravian Church on Tuesday
to take part in the celebratory service for the life of John M. Jarvis, whose life-long
service to the people of Antigua and Barbuda was a central theme running through
the event.
John Jarvis died on January 15 following a brief period of illness. At the time of
his passing, Jarvis served as Chairman f the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral
Commission.
The chairmanship of ABEC would be the final chapter in a life of service to the
nation in a multi-faceted, multidimensional manner. His illustrious career as the
quintessential public servant is only matched by his service in volunteerism, social
work and community development.
Much as it was a funeral, the service took an upbeat path of celebration of John
Jarvis, the man, the husband and father who was not one to hug the limelight but
who chose to live a life of humility.
In a tribute delivered by Senator Shenella Govia, on behalf of the ailing Minister of
Education and Creative Industries, Daryll Matthew, she referred to Jarvis as ‘a true
patriot’. She singled out his work as a former Coordinator of Carnival as a time
when the consensus view is that this was one of the most creative periods for the
festival.
“According to Annette Aflak and Birchfield Osborne, who worked with John
Jarvis while he was coordinator for Carnival in the late 1980’s, John was deeply
committed to our cultural heritage and developing the art forms associated with
carnival with the aim of transforming our national festival into the “Caribbean’s
Greatest Summer Festival,” Sen Govia quoted the minister as saying.
Childhood friend Harold Lovell recalled growing up with John as only a fence
separated their respective childhood homes. Lovell spoke of their common
childhood experiences of playing marbles, the various forms of cricket and the life-
lessons learnt from those encounters.
His younger brother, Colin Jarvis, who delivered the eulogy, referenced a number
of examples that vividly illustrated John’s dedicated and selflessness. One such
was in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma which devastated Barbuda while narrowly
missing Antigua. He recalled that in a telephone conversation the day after the
storm passed, John informed him that he wanted to travel to Barbuda. When Colin
inquired how? John’s simple answer was ‘don’t worry…the first boat, the first
plane, even a bird, I will get to Barbuda’.
He said John’s devotion to his family was another exemplary example of his
standing as a man. He noted that among other things, John was an excellent cook
who enjoyed preparing meals for his family on a regular basis.
John Jarvis was accorded an official funeral by the government and lessons were
read by Governor General Sir Rodney Williams and Prime Minister Gaston
Browne. His body was laid to rest at the St. John’s Cemetery where a wreath
laying-ceremony was held involving senior government officials and members of
the family.
