Tributes have been pouring in following the death of Alloy Lequay, former political activist and cricket administrator, who has died at age 90. Born October 1, 1924, in Port-of-Spain, Lequay had been a sports administrator since the 1940s, contributing to the organisational structure of table tennis and cricket as a founder of the T&T Table Tennis Association (TTTTA), member of the West Indies Cricket Board of Control and head of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB). He also served as a Member of Parliament and was twice nominated to the Senate.
He was Chaconia Medal of Trinity (Gold) for sport administration in the 1988 national awards ceremony and the West Indian Tobacco Company Ltd (Witco) honoured awarded him the inaugural Jeffrey Stollmeyer Award for outstanding sport administration. The TTCB went on to win the Stollmeyer award four out of six times under Lequay’s stewardship. In the political arena, Lequay became the secretary of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) in 1960 and contested two elections. He was elected a Member of Parliament for the district of South Naparima in 1966.
He was leader of government business in the Senate during the tenure in office of the National Alliance for Reconstruction, 1986-91. Among those paying tribute yesterday was Congress of the People (COP) political leader Prakash Ramadhar who said Lequay was a founding member of the party who had contributed to its early growth and development.
“Lequay’s enthusiasm and work ethic towards building this new vehicle of hope matched and even surpassed many of those far younger than he was. It was testimony to the passion and commitment which he brought to every undertaking—and explained, in part, the tremendous success he achieved in various disciplines,” Ramadhar said. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran said Lequay was “a man among men, unyielding in his service to his country and fellow man. He served his nation with great devotion in his various positions: in politics, sport and social services.”
Dookeran, former political leader of the COP, said Lequay had developed a reputation for being reliable and helpful. “His dreams will continue to inspire us and his deeds to ‘fix our politics’ will always be remembered. Personally his kind advice, strong support and selfless acts of duty towards will nation building and good governance will remain in my memory for all times,” he said, adding that Lequay was a “great patriot” who will be missed.