Tobago mourns Senate Clerk

“Girl, yuh too blessed to be stressed.” That is what Independent Senator Dr Eastlyn McKenzie frequently told the late Dawn Dolly, former Clerk of the Senate, who was meticulous in every aspect — her dress, manners, work — and felt the need to put everything right, that she felt wasn’t. McKenzie, who said yesterday that she felt like a “headless chicken” now, stated that after she received the news of Dolly’s death on Tuesday, she went to her (Dolly’s office) and stood at the door “as I always did every Tuesday.” “And I say Dawn girl, when I came this morning you were not here, and you will never be here again. Goodbye friend. You have a nice time wherever you are. You could sing to the top of your lungs like you used to in church,” McKenzie said.

“Arnim (Smith) lick me up. This one lick me up worse,” McKenzie said. “When Madame President send me the note. My heart hit me, zoop zoop zoop. I hit it two cuff and I drink my water. I must be even drink Senator Kenneth Ramchand’s, just to calm myself.” Yesterday, Senate President Dr Linda Baboolal, Clerk of the House Jacqui Sampson and Jean Sandy went to Tobago to visit Dolly’s parents, Kirk and Francesca. Dolly’s body is to be taken to Tobago, her birthplace, for burial. The funeral is set tentatively for Monday. Dolly died of a cardio-embolism (a blood clot in the heart). It is one of the risks associated with anaesthesia. Ironically, Dolly had put off having the surgery several times, because she was scared. Dolly’s sister Avril, a registered nurse, came to Trinidad to stay with her for the surgery and was there with her when she died.

Avril  called her parents first to report that the operation was a success and that Dolly was out of the anaesthetic and talking. One hour later when Dolly died, Avril didn’t have the heart to break the bad news to her parents, so she called a brother who went for the church leaders and they all went to her parents. McKenzie said Dolly, who was selfless in her dedication to her parents, used to give her things to take to her (Dolly’s) parents in Tobago. Only last weekend Dolly gave her books to take for her niece who was doing A’ Levels at Dolly’s alma mater, Bishop’s Tobago, she recalled. She said Dolly was a hard worker who would “reach Timbucktu” to get information once it was requested by MPs. “I used to call her Miss Prim and Proper, Miss Put it Right,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie recalled that later on Tuesday evening as the Parliament staff tried to come to terms with the loss, they sang “Amazing Grace.” Canon Knolly Clarke went to view and pray over the body of Dolly, a staunch Anglican who regularly worshipped at Curepe Anglican Church. THA Secretary Orville London extended condolences to Dolly’s parents. Saying he knew her father, Kirk personally, London stated: “I  know how devastated they are because they are very proud of their Dawn,” he said.  “Politicians are never supposed to be at a loss for words but when I heard it, I was,” he said. He said he admired Dolly’s ability to be a person and a professional at the same time. In a statement, the UNC extended its condolences to Dolly’s family. The UNC stated that it expected that the private nursing home would launch an investigation into her death “to determine whether there was any negligence.”