Family, friends and People’s National Movement (PNM) members yesterday paid glowing tribute to former National Security minister and party deputy campaign manager Martin Joseph who drowned on Monday after taking a last-minute dip at Grange Bay, Tobago. At his funeral service, Joseph was described as patriotic, family-oriented, trustworthy, loyal, humble and disciplined by those dear and close to him.
Among the mourners attending the service at the Holy Trinity Church, Port-of-Spain, were PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley, National Security Minister Gary Griffith, Speaker Wade Mark, former prime minister Patrick Manning and former PNM treasurer Andre Monteil. In paying tribute, Rowley said Joseph spent his formative years with and in the PNM. He said Joseph was always on top of his game, trustworthy, reliable, worked hard, and demonstrated discipline in his personal and public life.
“He carried himself with dignity. That was Martin Joseph. There are things in life we have no control over, as prepared as we might be. Tomorrow is guaranteed to no one. Martin was taken from us,” a sad Rowley said. Rowley said the foundation Joseph built for the PNM has remained solid to this day. “He paved the way for the party. He was a perfectionist.” Joseph’s son Akili said his father’s life was built on successive steps.
“Dad was always guided by loyalty and dedication. He was loyal to his family and the PNM.” In retrospect, Akili said his father was a stickler for education and pleaded with his six children to never stop learning. Akili said when he wanted to return to Trinidad because where he went to study was too cold, his father never gave in. “He told me to keep focus and this too shall soon pass.”
A holder of a Masters of Science in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Regional Science, Joseph worked night and day to repay the loans he took to finance his studies, Akili said. Akili said even though his father insisted on humility, spoke softly, he always carried a big stick. “My father would always tell me to measure twice but cut once. He also said if you don’t like the package don’t seal the deal.”
Akili said although his father seldom said he loved him, his actions spoke louder than words. At the beginning of the year, Akili, a motorcyclist said he received a phone call from his father telling him about the death of a Caribbean Airline pilot who lost his life while riding a motorbike. “He told me I tired talk to you with bikes.” In delivering the sermon, Rev Calvin Bess said when he heard about Joseph’s death he was faced with momentary disbelief.
“We ask why when death strikes? We will never get a satisfactory answer. What we know is that tragedy never takes time off or goes on a holiday,” Bess said. Bess said we are all given a bag of tools at birth which we can use as stepping stones or stumbling blocks. “Joseph made a stepping stone in life. What are we doing? Are we making stepping stones or stumbling blocks?”
Manning stays away from high-ranking opposition members
Former prime minister Patrick Manning yesterday kept a far distance from the People National Movement (PNM) family at the funeral service of former National Security minister Martin Joseph.
Manning, who attended the service with his wife Hazel at the Holy Trinity Church, Port-of-Spain, to pay their last respects to Joseph, opted not to sit in the front pews which were reserved for dignitaries—including government ministers, opposition members and senators, and high ranking officials of the PNM.
Ably assisted by Hazel, Manning entered the church just before 10 am to be greeted with thunderous applause and cheers from party supporters. PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley was also given a similar welcome.
As Manning edged his way up the isle, he chose to sit several pews behind the PNM members even though there was available room in the first four rows. Among those who were seated in the front were PNM leader Keith Rowley, Faris Al-Rawi, Fitzgerald Hinds, Donna Cox and Howard Chin Lee.
After the service, Rowley and Manning did not greet each other. On December 5, Manning, who has represented the San Fernando East constituency for 34 years wrote to Rowley requesting an extension of the deadline for nominations to January 2 because he proposed to make a decision then on whether or not he would accept a nomination.
However, the PNM executive was adamant that the nomination deadline would be December 22. Manning is now out of the nomination process. After the service, Manning who shook hands and chatted briefly with several PNM grassroots members, refused to speak to the media.
PNM chairman Franklin Khan, who was at the funeral, said he could not give a reason why Manning sat in the back row. “I have no comment on that. I don’t know what is the reason for that.” Page A6—Aloes cries for Manning