tidings
Yvonne Webb
PNM, UNC and Independent bodies have all joined together to offer condolences on the death of UWI Senior Lecturer and former PNM Senator Dr Lester Henry.
Henry died at his home on Tuesday night of a suspected heart attack.
The son of former PNM partner Ferdie Ferreira, Henry celebrated his 61st birthday days before his sudden death on October 20.
Dr Varma Deyalsingh, representing the Independent bench, remembered him as a “patriot”.
Dr Devant Maharaj, who served as a government senator under the United National Congress (UNC) while Henry represented the then opposition PNM, recalled Henry’s rare ability to separate politics from the individual.
In a statement, PNM said its “deepest condolences go out to his father, his family, his friends, his professional colleagues and his students.
“Dr Henri’s death is an important loss for both the party and the country. We salute his contribution to national development in the field of education and politics and we are grateful to his family for sharing him with us.
“Rest now, good and faithful servant. Your work here is done.”
In another announcement, PRO Laurel Lezama-Lee Sing said it was Henry’s brilliance and professional expertise as an economist that caught the attention of PNM political leader Dr Keith Rowley.
As he was born into a wealthy family with political activism, Lezama-Lee Sing said, it was no surprise that Henry would eventually become involved in party politics.
Rowley appointed him a senator during the party’s time in opposition from 2010-2015. He was reappointed as a government senator after PNM won the 2015 general election and he served in the latter post from 2015-2020. Henri also served on the PNM national executive as the party’s treasurer from 2014-2018.
He taught monetary theory and policy, economic history and monetary issues in economic development at the UWI.
Lezama-Lee Sing said his contributions to parliamentary debates were accurate, informative and expert-led.
She described him as a family man, father of four and an incredible brother and son.
She recalled a family tradition where almost every Sunday morning he would be at a place with his father as they sat on benches in the cool of the trees near the Queen’s Park Savannah reading the papers and discussing national affairs. They were sometimes joined by others who strolled through Savannah on those mornings.
One of his former colleagues in the Senate, now an MP and cabinet minister, Foster Cummings, remembered Henry as a brilliant but modest man. Cummings said he was always willing to share his expertise with his colleagues.
“He was very passionate about the party and would often call or text me to discuss his views on a range of issues,” said Cummings, speaking in his capacity as PNM general secretary.
“I really appreciated his contribution. It was an honor and a privilege to serve alongside him in both Parliament House and Balisier House. May his soul rest in peace.”
Independent Senator Dr Varma Deyalsingh told Newsday: “While I have lost a friend and a former fellow senator, the country has lost a patriot who was very passionate about money laundering and its impact on the TT economy.
“Before the pandemic, we would often meet at Rituals in MovieTowne and over a cup of coffee we would discuss cricket, politics, economics and how to save our country.
“He was always concerned that TT had been identified as a major money laundering location and was passionate about improving the regulatory and legal framework aimed at combating money laundering. He called for assessing the risk of money laundering in different sectors.
“Although he was no longer in the senate when we passed the Gambling (Gaming and Betting) Control Bill, 2021, he happily called me, as this was one of his dreams. I’m glad he was able to witness his passing.
“The last discussion we had was about the challenges we faced with our porous borders and his analytical mind was busy trying to find solutions and offer me ideas.”
Former UNC Senator and Energy Secretary Kevin Ramnarine also remembered Henry with fond memories.
“Lester and I served in the Senate of the 10th Republican Congress. Despite being on opposite sides, we had a good relationship. He will be remembered for his very sound contributions to economic affairs.
“My condolences to his family, including Ferdie. Rest in peace.”
Another former UNC senator, Dr Devant Maharaj, also added his voice. recalling Henry as one of those people who did not possess the reputation of being a “flamboyant, wasteful or media politician.
“Lester was a politician who was firmly rooted in his field, and that was his platform and importance to TT politics.
“While many politicians without substance made more noise, breathing fire and brimstone at every turn, their substance often paled in Lester’s contribution, which many lacked the intellect to fully understand.”
Maharaj said he served with Henry between 2010 and 2015.
Regarding his contributions to the Senate, Maharaj said they were “all well thought out, well reasoned and delivered with a calm and measured passion. More often than not, Lester spoke frequently on issues affecting the TT economy and his solutions to the country’s economic challenges.
“While we were on opposite political sides, outside the Senate chamber, in the tea room, Lester was a lovable person and did not hesitate to have hearty conversations with those with whom a few minutes earlier he was in all-out verbal warfare. Lester was one of those politicians on both sides of the aisle who had the rare ability to separate the politics from the person.
“Lester will be missed.”
