CBTT: bishop Mendes was a man of distinction

In a press statement yesterday, the group referred to Mendes as well respected and revered, not only in La Romaine, where he served for many years, but throughout areas he served as a priest.

Head of CBTT, Harrack Balramsingh who is also the chairman of the Board of Education at the La Romaine Integrated Education Project, pointed out that the Bishop was a great supporter of the IEP’s annual Alcohol and Drug Awareness Week because he felt that substance was a major problem among the young people of the country.

Balramsingh stated that in spite of noteworthy efforts of people like the late Bishop to keep young people away from drugs and alcohol, "little is done at the moment in our schools to highlight this serious social ill which continues to affect our families in Trinidad and Tobago." He added that present and past governments knew that drunk driving was responsible for a large percentage of the death and injuries on our roadways, "yet for some unknown reason they have not seen it fit to implement the breathalyser."

Balramsingh further stated, "Students of all races and religion admired and respected Bishop Mendes for his humility. Due to the quality of life he lived, Balramsingh added, the late Bishop was able to make a difference in the lives of the many students he dealt with.

He said, "Bishop Mendes made the type of contribution, which, if we all do, will lead to a better and safer society for all of us. The late John Mendes would be remembered as a Catholic Priest who served his church, and all those who came in contact with him, with great distinction."