Remembering a true patriot
THE EDITOR: I write to pay tribute to Abdul Wahab who departed this life suddenly on October 31, 2005 almost unsung, when he deserves to be recognised for the selfless service that he gave to Trinidad and Tobago. Wahab lived at Gurahoo Trace, Chase Village and was a candidate in several general elections commencing from 1981 in the constituency at Couva North against Basdeo Panday. He must have known and we of the Organisation for National Reconstruction (ONR) and the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) knew that he had very little chance of winning against Basdeo Panday at that time but he volunteered anyway because he thought service to party was paramount, and he also liked contesting elections. He was simple yet astute, hardworking, an effective and a witty public speaker in the style of Kamaluddin Mohammed and committed in a serious way to family Islam, The National Land Tenants and Rate Payers Association (NLTRA) the ONR and the NAR. He was a founder of the last three mentioned organisations and served in various positions on their national executives. For many years he was leader of NLTRA and served as Chairman of the NAR when I had the honour to lead the party. He was also appointed a temporary Government Senator int he Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. In 1981, Wahab resigned his job as a public servant like Clive Pantin and Dr Randolph Peters did so that he could contest the general elections for the ONR and thereafter started his own business as a steel fabricator which he successfully ran but which still gave him the flexibility to do political mobilisation work and community service with the ONR, NAR and NLTRA. The party could always rely on Wahab to deliver a crowd from Chaguanas and its environs to political meetings all over the country. He was a consummate organiser. As the driving force behind NLTRA, he helped many a landless person to secure and find shelter. Wahab succumbed to a heart attack while fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. The Muslim community paid well deserved tribute to him as a devout Muslim at his funeral service. He remained committed and faithful to the principles of the ONR and NAR to the end when he could have so easily gone off to other pastures like so many of his erstwhile political associates. He gave much and selflessly and asked for nothing. He got very little in return other than the joy and satisfaction of giving service. He was a true patriot. He was a good man — gone too soon. ANTHONY ISIDORE SMART Port-of-Spain
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"Remembering a true patriot"