JACELON LAUDED AS MAN OF INTEGRITY

Addressing a huge congregation including public figures, business executives and legal luminaries, Roman Ca-tholic priest Father Gar-field Rochard yesterday lamented over the lack of productivity, the in-discipline and growing intolerance in the society. He urged the nation’s leaders in all spheres to return to the legacy of the 1950s and 1960s — especially in the areas of education and family life, as they worked to restore integrity and dignity to the national landscape. Rochard was speaking at the funeral service of the late Charles Anthony Jacelon, former government minister at the Church of the Assumption, Maraval whom he praised  for his many contributions to institutions, charities and to the development of many aspects of national life, noting that despite his (Jacelon’s) personal success, he was never “indifferent, aloof and independent” from the grassroots.

Among those attending the service were Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his wife, members of the Cabinet, former government ministers such as Errol Mahabir, Overand Padmore, Marilyn Gor-don and Mervyn Assam, Chief Justice Sat Sharma, former CJs Michael de la Bastide and Cecil Kelsick, Justice Stanley John, attorneys Russell Martineau, Suren Capil-deo, House Speaker Barry Sinanan, UNC MP Win-ston Dookeran, business leaders such as Tony Harford, Arthur Lok Jack, Sam Martin, Chamber President Christian Mout-tet, Bhoe Tewarie and William Aguiton. Rochard said the society needed to return to the grassroots to “educate, form, fashion and recreate a new thinking and new mindset” aimed at restoring the national watchwords and putting the society “back on track.”

Colleague de la  Bas-tide said he and Jacelon were friends “from small,” and enjoyed a “long, close, personal and professional relationship.” He said as boys they started serving collection at the Girls Industrial School (now known as St Jude’s). He said Jacelon joined his chambers in the early 1970s and remained there for 20 years until they formed the firm — de la  Bastide and Jacelon. De la Bastide said that one of the most striking features of their relationship — was that they never quarrelled. “Anyone who knows Tony or me well will realise how extraordinary that was,” he said. De la Bastide explained it by saying that he had total trust and confidence in Jacelon and he (de la Bastide) knew he had Jacelon’s total loyalty and support.

“There was nothing mean in his personality, no room for jealousy,” de la Bastide stated. He added however that Jacelon did not suffer fools gladly, which was one of the reasons he never relished advocacy. “He found it difficult to sit for hours in the courtroom listening to opposing attorneys speak, (for want of a better word), rubbish,” he said. De la Bastide recalled how Jacelon would walk through his home reciting quotes from Shakespeare. De la Bastide said his and Jacelon’s family always spent Christmas together and “it will be at Christmas 2005 that I will fully realise Tony is gone. He was an indispensable member of the cast of my life.”

Son Andre said his father instilled in all his children, his integrity, his sense of humour, his obsession to be kind and his passion for life. Colleague John Don-aldson stated Jacelon’s departure had left a vast emptiness within the family, friends and institutions in which he participated. He was always on time, dependable, selfless and loyal and had the best attributes of friendship. “He willingly gave his talents and time. Whenever he felt someone could benefit from his assistance, he didn’t wait (to act),” Donaldson said. Donaldson said Jacelon never sought to burden anyone with any of his personal problems, even if they included his personal wealth.

He said many boardrooms benefited from Jacelon’s leadership, knowledge and perspicacity. Yet, he noted, Jacelon was at the same time “the consummate team player.” Donaldson said Jacelon was a dependable shoulder on which former Prime Minister George Chambers leaned during the difficult post-boom years. He said some of the credit given to Chambers for wisely and competently steering the economy during this period, also belonged to Jacelon. Donaldson said Jacelon was also instrumental in “restraining” the “rampany” Tobago House of Assembly. As treasurer of the PNM, Jacelon’s personal integrity was crucial in safeguarding the funds of the party, Donaldson said.