From an early age, Roosevelt Brown acquired a philosophy that was to transform him into a true citizen of the world.

He describes in his autobiography how he learned that "whatever knowledge I acquired from society did not belong to me".

In 'Me One' he says: "I also learnt that I must give all the learning back to my family, and as I got older it went from family to community to country to Africa and to the world.

"My philosophy in life is that we should always give back to the society wherever we are - be it Bermuda or some other place in the world."

His is a legacy that spans several decades and continents.

As a founding member and chairman of the Committee for Universal Adult Suffrage, Dr. Brown spearheaded the civil rights struggle to attain the vote.

For centuries the ballot box was the sole preserve of Bermudian landowners and until 1944, was restricted to men.

In 1960 the CUAS began fighting for democratic change in the form of 'one person, one vote'.

Three years later a new franchise bill became law, giving every adult over-25 the vote.

An astute politician, Dr. Brown was fundamental in the birth of the Progressive Labour Party.

He also organised the first Black Power Conference which was held in Bermuda in 1969 and served on the International Committee of the movement. He was also a driving force in the Sixth Pan-African Congress.

Dr. Brown was elected as a Parliamentarian from 1968-1972 but sacrificed his Pembroke East seat so that then-party leader the late Walter Robinson could return to the House of Assembly.

Born in Pembroke in 1932, the youngest son of Henrietta and John Brown, Dr. Brown grew up among a family who shared everything. This was to become the basis of his social and political philosophy.

He attended primary school in Warwick and was a pupil at Howard Academy before attending New York University in 1951.

In 1959 Dr. Brown moved to West Africa to teach biology in Liberia and it was there that he was given the name Pauulu Kamarakafego.

It was in his work as an ecological engineer however, that Dr. Kamarakafego found his true calling, dedicating his life to helping developing countries around the world.

Specialising in rural development, he worked among the peoples of Africa and the South Pacific, initiating self-help schemes and protection of the environment.

Dr. Kamarakafego's publications on rural technology include instructions on building houses and water tanks with simple materials; the economics of cottage industries; and the use of wind, solar, biomass and hydro energy.

He served as a consultant to the United Nations and received a UN Development Programme award for innovation in design techniques, developing a cost-effective means of extracting clean water in rural communities.

His knowledge and experience also proved invaluable to Bermuda when he was appointed consultant to the Ministry of the Environment.

Human rights activist, political mentor, world humanitarian and national hero - the legacy of Dr. Pauulu Kamarakafego will live on.