LF Seukeran — one of a kind

Fortunately for me, while being a loyal and devoted supporter of the PNM, I always enjoyed and continue to enjoy good articulate, informed parliamentary presentations characterised by good debating skills. To me the hallmark of a good parliamentarian is his/her capacity to think and speak on your feet, the analytical mind, sharp, quick and witty.

How well do I recall Seukie, always the friendly guy, walking into Parliament complete with several books from which he quoted extensively, and always ready for political combat.

During that period as an ordinary dock worker, it would have been a tragedy to miss those informed and skillful debates of which Seukie, even long winded at times, was one of the major contributors.

It was as a result of some of these extensive sometimes unlimited debates in which some members on both sides of the house assumed that the longer the presentation, the more convincing it would be, that the Standing Orders Committee had to reduce members speaking time to its present limit.

To his everlasting credit, Seukie was one of the very few complete Trinbagonians, who certainly enjoyed every aspect of what the country of his birth had to offer.

His life was not only the Rags to Riches story, but his reluctant conversion from Hindu Brahmin to Trinbagonian Creole, West Indian loyalist, without losing the identity of his East Indian origin. He was as comfortable with the culture of his forefathers as he was with what has emerged as our national culture.

I got to know Seukie socially, sometime in the late 60s, early 70s. My fondest memory of the grand old man was a Carnival Tuesday in the early 70s. I met him behind the Grand Stand where we were both imbibing and enjoying the true spirit of the season. The area was one where all the VIP’s from Governor General in those days, Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams to who was who in TT. From our privileged position I invited Seukie to accompany me on a walk down the Grand Stand isle across to the stage and up the track better known as the drag, the entrance East of the Grand Stand, where the bands entered the Savannah on their way to the big stage.

Seukie hesitated for a while and then being the politician that he certainly was, agreed to accompany me, and what an experience it was for this traditional anti-PNM opposition politician. As we started our journey down the isle, the crowd began to shout and call Seukie, Seukie, look Seukie. Seukie responded with waves, handshakes even kisses to our beautiful women, old and young. The further we advanced to the stage the stronger the recognition and greetings became, however the best was left for last.

As we proceeded along the drag, out of the official restricted area, Seukie was now exposed to more than 15,000 mostly Afro-Trinidadians who hugged him, shook his hands, chanted his name and offered him every imaginable food and beverage. As he later confessed to me, originally he was somewhat scared in this massive unprotected crowd of what must have been over 90 percent PNM supporters.

In this land of ours, Seukie the country boy was given a reception in the city, the PNM heartland that he never expected/or experienced in his life and which in fact he never forgot. We ended up at the control tower at the top of Jerningham Avenue and returned to the Grand Stand. On our way back up, the late Prime Minister, Dr Eric Williams, who was sitting in the Prime Minister’s box, spotted Seukie and invited him to join him. Seukie obliged. It was certainly a joy to see how these traditional political combatants enjoyed themselves in what can only be described as the true Trini spirit. In very few third world countries, such a thing could have happened.

Seukie, the country boy reluctant Hindu convert, teacher, politician, community leader, trade unionist, successful businessman, land developer, successful parent and grandparent, socialite, cultural ambassador, conversationalist, par excellence, was to my mind the complete Trinbagonian.

His autobiography has certainly reflected not only the quality and character of my dear friend, but the true soul of our nation the way we were, and the way we should be. All of us who claim love for our country should and must read Mr Speaker Sir. It is certainly an informative and inspiring story of a true Trini.