The late Errol Mahabir was remembered yesterday as a giant of a man both locally and globally as hundreds turned out at the St Paul’s Anglican Church, San Fernando, to bid him a final farewell.
He was cremated at a private ceremony at Belgrove’s Funeral Home.
Among the mourners were a cross-section of major stakeholders from both sides of the political divide, business and energy, as well as prime ministers past and present, including Basdeo Panday, Patrick Manning and Dr Keith Rowley. Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar was a no-show even though many of her colleagues in both the Lower and Upper Houses were present.
Rowley and Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi sat in the front pew where Mahabir and his wife, Yvonne, sat every Sunday morning. Manning, accompanied by his wife, Hazel, sat directly behind Rowley.
Rowley and Manning exchanged greetings during the sign of peace observance.
Neither of them was called upon to speak at the service, but as he left the three-and-a-half hour long programme Manning, who served with Mahabir in the late Dr Eric Williams’ cabinet, told reporters Mahabir was the greatest.
“He was one of the greatest politicians, one of the greatest in San Fernando and one of the greatest in T&T,” said Manning.
Mahabir’s friend of five decades, Peter George, who delivered one of nine tributes, described him as a trailblazer.
George said: “He was a pioneer among a group of nation builders who all helped to shape our society and charted the course for the country that has made us the envy of the Caribbean.”
George also remembered the selflessness of the man who, in spite of his large portfolio, made time to assist his colleagues often at great personal sacrifice.
“He understood the expectation that the country placed on government and he knew he would not and could not let them down,” George said, as he lauded Mahabir’s ability to balance both public and private life.
“Errol Mahabir was not an ordinary man, he was a master politician and statesman. Errol Mahabir made politics look easy.”
Stating that the late minister was a consummate listener who took into consideration all viewpoints before making a decision, George said this was evident in the role Mahabir played as the architect of our energy sector, most notably in the creation of the National Gas Company and the National Energy Corporation.
Mahabir’s three children, Jenny, Colin, Derek, his nephews, nieces and grandchildren remembered him as the patriarch of the family, who stepped into the role at the young age of 25 when his own father died. He later became surrogate father to his many nieces and nephews upon the death of his siblings and, throughout his lifetime, their confidante, friend and inspiration.
Colin, referring to commentators who described his dad as the best labour minister, told the present minister with this portfolio Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, who was among the mourners, that she had big shoes to fill.
Colin also remarked that the man who loved music and could play the piano to soothe the soul wanted a concert rather than a service. A combination was achieved as two of his granddaughters—Ashleigh and Candice—who brought him joy with their melodious voices when he was alive, were joined by other distinguished singers including Raymond Edwards, Marvin Smith (of GML) and Faye Alibocas to raise the roof of the church on Harris Promenade.
The congregation had to restrain themselves from bursting into applause every time the singers delivered with precision the lyrics to some evergreen tunes like, “You Raise Me Up,” “ The Prayer,”, “The Holy City,” “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again,”, “Oh My Papa,” to welcome him and “My Way,” as the casket was wheeled out of the church he faithfully served during his lifetime.
Colin said the family had decided to establish the Errol Mahabir Memorial Concert every year on the anniversary of his death—September 19.
Proceeds from the concert will be used for the advancement of talented people who are interested in furthering their musical career.
In the midst of the sorrow, chief celebrant Canon Knolly Clarke, Mahabir’s friend and priest of longstanding, brought much needed comic relief as he referred to the late San Fernando mayor, energy and labour minister as “Errol Mc Leod”, the former labour minister and trade unionist.
Canon Clarke said Mahabir was an Anglican to the bone, a Christian to the bone, who worshipped every Sunday morning with his wife of 60 years, when he (Clarke) was rector of the Promenade church. He said Mahabir’s contribution to the Anglican Church was not only monetary but in whatever capacity he was needed. He said Mahabir was instrumental in the establishment of a Garden of Peace at the Anglican Cathedral in Port-of-Spain, and in this garden his ashes would be kept.
Roman Catholic Priest Fr Garfield Rochard, who delivered the homily, said he was privileged to be a part of Mahabir’s family and to see his offspring grow up. He said Mahabir was instrumental in getting Williams to consent to the establishment of the Vatican Embassy in T&T.