Cut down on roti, white rice and flour

Pundit Karmesh Sharma made the suggestion at the funeral service for attorney Carol Cuffy-Dowlat at her home at Oasis Greens, Egypt Village, in Chaguanas.

Sharma identified the five main causes of death as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and its complications, heart diseases and respiratory diseases, “soon to be taken over by accidents and injuries.” The common things among the first four are food and drinks, he added.

“Always, wherever I go, I say very nicely ‘My friends I want you to cut your sugar intake, I want you to cut your salt intake, I want you to cut your carbohydrates mainly rice, roti and flour products’.” Cuffy-Dowlat, 60, a founding member of the Congress of the People (COP), died on Friday last at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex at Mount Hope.

She had been battling diabetes for many years. The former parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Housing had two sons and was a grandmother of five.

Sharma lamented the breakdown in family life and said more needs to be done to instil values in “this materialistic society.” He suggested that family life can be restored by regularly using the phrases “I love you”, “forgive me”, “please” and “thank you”.

“How do we say ‘I love you’ now to our children? ‘Yuh want pizza? Here, look a Samsung 7’ - materials things. Some years ago, a paediatrician in south sent a three-year-old for counselling because the child cursed the doctor.

The doctor was giving him a shot (injection), he got vex, turned around and efff him up. He eff up the doctor.” Among the politicians in attendance were former COP leader Winston Dookeran, Local Government Minister and former San Fernando mayor Kazim Hosein, United National Congress MPs Rudranath Indarsingh, Ganga Singh, Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie and Dr Roodal Moonilal, former minister Vasant Bharat, former Arima mayor Ghassan Youseph, Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodan and council members of various corporations. Noticeably absent were former COP leader Prakash Ramadhar and former prime ministers Basdeo Panday and Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Sharma emphasised that as a pundit, he visits about 30 to 35 homes monthly and, based on observations, some children will “make Chucky look like Jesus.

(They are hardened children (and) own-way.” “It starts at home. We have teenage murderers, thieves. It breaks my heart that children are getting murdered left right and centre, sex in school, pornography.” One relative told mourners that for many years, Cuffy-Dowlat gave of her time selflessly to enhance the lives of others. She demonstrated the true meaning of patriotism and relatives did not expect her to leave them so quickly. Former local government minister Chandresh Sharma said Cuffy-Dowlat gave her entire life to people although she “might have died a pauper.” He recalled that she came from humble beginnings in Chickland and, during pregnancy, studied law.

“She was the worst lawyer in the country - she charged no fees. Everyone is owning Carol.” He suggested that a trust be established in her honour.

Cuffy-Dowlat’s body was taken to the Waterloo cremation site where final rites were performed.