Colin Bullock, ‘partial to all things Jamaican!’
Late public servant lionised as someone with limitless talent and big heart
IN LIFE, Colin Fitz-Herbert Bullock was a public servant, civil servant, policymaker, teacher, daddy, second dad, favourite uncle and beloved Cornwall College old boy.
In death, he was sent off with the dignity befitting someone who had spent much of his life dedicated to the improvement of Jamaica, the land he loved, during a funeral at the Sts Peter and Paul Catholic Church.
His family, former associates, technocrats and policymakers and friends filled the church to celebrate the life of the “gentle giant” who they declared had “limitless talent and a big heart”.
LARGER THAN LIFE
John Robinson, whose tribute represented several institutions where Bullock worked, said the former civil servant was never afraid of standing alone and proud of being called the majority of one.
“He was indeed a larger than life figure, with limitless talent and a big heart who served, and had extraordinary accomplishments,” said Robinson to the packed church of mourners, which included former Prime Minister Bruce Golding; members of Parliament Dr Horace Chang and Fitz Jackson; former and current governors of the Bank of Jamaica Derick Latibeaudiere and Brian Wynter; Dr Carlton Davis, and former Cabinet member Dr Omar Davies.
Robinson told the mourners that Bullock – affectionately referred to as ‘CB’ – returned to teaching, even after his illustrious career in public service, where he continued to share his Grandson Asher Pitter touches the casket with the remains of the late Colin Bullock at the Sts Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church yesterday.
knowledge with his students.
The Colin Bullock award for the best student in Public Finance and Public Policy was established in his honour by the Department of Economics at the University of the West Indies.
He was described as playing an instrumental role in the crafting of financial policies that led to a comprehensive economic reform programme, the stability of which the country is experiencing today.
“His unshakeable belief in fiscal responsibility saw the development of the central government’s annual budget, management of budgetary operations and the provision of fiscal advice. His support for fiscal rules has left us in a strong foundation for longer-term fiscal sustainability and macroeconomic
stability,” said Robinson.
Bullock was described as having a love affair with his wife like no other, where they not only deeply loved but complemented each other. He was said to have picked his late wife Patricia, who predeceased him last year, from her school yearbook photo, without knowing her, and found her at university.
PROUD ‘COUNTRY MAN’
His son Shonari remembered his father as “a country man who was proud of it”.
“He was always respectful, and it never diminished him to say sir or ma’am. Daddy and Mommy loved each other more than their children. It was a good thing. He was a good daddy and he always believed that Jamaica was second to none
when it came to technology,” said Shonari.
Bullock was laid to rest at Dovecot Memorial Park in St Catherine.