About
Raynato Jennings Bartlette

Jennings Raynato Bartlette was a bright, compassionate, respectable, and proud Molineaux man who was born on November 9th, 1994 to Mr. Raymond Bartlette, an accomplished police sergeant and Mrs. Telka Bartlette a prominent seamstress and entrepreneur, whom he loved with every fiber of his being.

 

Jennings attended the Molineaux Primary School and later went on to the Cayon High School where we met in first form, and we were inseparable since and then the Sixth Form now the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College where he pursued his ‘A’ Level subjects. I later became a frequent visitor at his Bamboo Street home in Molineaux and was treated like a son and a brother. Sylvan, Alex, Rolstein, Rosecita, Patrice, Candy, Clem and St. Claire, all came to know me and love me like a brother.

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As a student at the Cayon High School, I along with many of my peers revered Jennings for his intellectual and academic prowess. He was not much of an athlete, but he made up for it with head. Jennings and I would joke a lot about many things including the size of our head, it is still unclear which of us has the biggest head but I think I am up on him an inch. He had an infectious sense of humour, when he heckled you and laugh you were left with no choice but to erupt in laughter! He dabbled a bit in basketball, we would often take to the court to the back of his house, who won and who lost is between him and I. When it came to draughts Jennings was a worthy competitor and believe me, he was competitive! He played amongst some of the best in Molineaux, the likes of Pouie, Yellowman, Lanky and many others.

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Jennings was a dear friend to me. He stood as godfather for my first born and was an usher at my wedding many moons ago. Year later when my marriage fell into ruins Jennings would often tell me, “ I ran into your wife today” and I would sharply say, “EX”. He would grin and chuckle and say, “I don’t understand, she knows you and I are close but she never shows me any bad face”. Any I would say to him, “That is because you have a better face than me”. We would laugh it off and there weren’t many words on that painful subject, but I knew he wanted what was best for me and to see me happy. That was the kind of person he was and that was all the therapy I needed to get me through the day.

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He was a prolific conversationalist, whenever we met up it was legendary! We could talk for hours on different subjects, whether it was mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, local or world politics. Jennings loved mathematics and science and possessed the potential to be a leading scientist or surgeon. I have no doubt that had he chosen to pursue his dreams to become a medical doctor he would have been successful. With all the encouragement and prodding, Jennings chose not to travel overseas to pursue further studies but rather remained with his mother and siblings whom he loved dearly.

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When his dad passed away, Jennings automatically took up a sense of responsibility as the man of the home and lost the desire to join his siblings overseas. His sisters in particular recounted that even though he was much younger than most of them, he acted as if he was their father. If ever there was a male friend visiting and they stayed too long, he would say, it’s time for you to leave with a no-nonsense look. Say what you want about blocker, his sisters appreciated his

role as protector in chief and they are more structured and focused because of the protection they got from Jennings.

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Jenning’s affection for medicine guided his career start at the St. Kitts Biomedical Research Institute, the Monkey Farm as we knew it then. He interned there with Andy Smith of Ottley’s now Dr. Andy Redman, leading neurological surgeon based in Texas. At times I would journey to down to Mills’ and would be in awe with the stories he would tell about research techniques and breakthroughs. He left the St. Kitts Biomedical Research Institute and picked up another short internship at the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.

 

Not quite settled, Jennings learned of an opportunity at the Pharmacy at the JNF Hospital and his passion for medicine and helping people led him there where he spent over two and a half decades contributing to this county in the field of pharmacology. He worked under the mentorship and tutelage of Mr. Eric France. In Mr. France’s words, “Raynato Bartlette was introduced to the hospital pharmacy as a student pharmacist with the outlook that, providing he accepted the challenges and responsibilities, he could proceed to formal training qualification.

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The young student exhibited an enthusiasm and gusto with regards learning new skills and displayed above average interest. In other words, he learned fast. He mastered the routine functions of the pharmacy to the point where it became no longer necessary for direct supervision regarding regular everyday operations. After some time, discussion on the options of further studies,  in an overseas institution, was introduced.

 

He seemed excited about this, at first but, afterwards expressed doubt about going abroad. Speculation about not wanting to leave his mother to whom he had a deep sense of dedication began to surface. However, he displayed an understanding of what was required and executed his duties with satisfaction. He started bringing his bible to work which he placed on his desk. He would open and read when he had an opportunity during down time. He loved the book of Romans. He read that religiously, even after being reminded that there were other books in the

bible”.

 

Jennings became a prominent feature in the pharmacy at JNF, he touched so many lives and helped so many of us that at times he forgot to take care of himself. If selfless was a person, it would be Jennings! Jennings wanted to save the world. Always helpful, respectful, and giving.

 

Formal Remembrance

Of Mr. Renatto Jennings Bartlette

By Vaughan Henderson

Close Friend and Classmate

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