Even as society battles daily to protect and enforce the rights of the poor and oppressed as well as the destitute and sick, Deacon Keston de Verteuil said it also had a duty to protect vulnerable citizens which included 12-year-old girls.
Wading into the national debate on the ongoing topic of child marriage in this country, De Verteuil yesterday summed it up as he urged everyone in society to act now to make a difference.
His brief statement on the topic was delivered towards the end of the homily at the funeral of statesman and media icon Holly Betaudier who was laid to rest yesterday.
During the service at the Santa Rosa RC Church, Arima, De Verteuil urged the congregation not to mourn Betaudier’s passing but rather to celebrate his life’s achievements and take comfort in the knowledge that he would once again walk this earth as Jesus Christ once did.
With the national flag flying at half-mast in the Arima Borough yesterday, hundreds braved the heavy rains to bid farewell to the 91-year-old who died on May 29 at his Glencoe home.
In the absence of an eulogy as per Betaudier’s wishes, De Verteuil praised the yeoman contribution by Betaudier to develop T&T’s cultural landscape.
Joking that this country had founded the original talent showcase in the form of Scouting for Talent long before some of the developed countries which were now “peddling” their own versions of varying talent shows, De Verteuil appealed to the masses to reflect quietly on their own personal contributions to the development of the country and self.
He said while the expiry date of persons was not known, they could ensure that their time here on earth was one which was fruitful, positive and nurturing.
Welcoming the large numbers who turned out to pay their last respects to his father in French, Holly Betaudier Jr said while his father had never worked in the field of insurance, he was viewed as an “adjustor” as he was always willing to adapt and go with the flow in any situation.
He said while Betaudier’s passing would leave a void, his legacy would ensure that was filled as there was enough archival material which could be used to create a library on his work in the field of entertainment and the arts.
Recalling his father’s special talent for surprising him right before a show was due to start, Betaudier Jr said he would always remember the advice of “Deal with life as it comes, don’t be worried too much about tomorrow and handle it, just handle it.”
Fondly remembered as the “Arima Kid”, Betaudier was described by Education Minister Anthony Garcia as the consummate professional who never missed an opportunity to promote culture and country.
Also paying respects yesterday was Community Development Minister Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Public Utilities Minister Ancil Antoine, Arima Mayor George Hadeed, former minister John Rahael and former Arima mayor Ghassan Youssef.
Among the media personalities were Jones P Madeira, Dennis Mc Comie, Richard Pierre, Dale Enoch, Marcia Miranda and a host of Betaudier’s former colleagues from TTT.
Madeira described Betaudier as “the consummate searcher for talent in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Recalling his bouncy and jovial personality, Madeira said Betaudier’s smile and voice was a “good soul” who knew and kept in touch with his roots.
He said Betaudier would be long remembered for his humility, sense of community, willingness and simplicity to embrace countrymen from far and wide in his quest to promote and elevate country and society.
As part of the farewell to Beatudier, who during his years on television helped to make Crix a household name by giving away bags and bags of the product to audience members who he sometimes had to buff when they rushed for it, packages of biscuits were distributed to those present as they exited the church yesterday.
Delighted with the single-wrapped packets, persons were seen laughing as they were forced to remember Betaudier “buffing” members of the public.
Betaudier was laid to rest at the Santa Rosa cemetery.