NAR colleagues pay tribute

Former National Alliance for Reconstruction MPs yesterday paid glowing tribute to Clive Pantin, describing him as a friend and a man truly committed to country.

“He was an excellent partner,” said former Arouca North MP Rawle Raphael.

He said Pantin helped him tremendously in his constituency.

“As a matter of fact, the Trincity Government School, he assisted me in getting that done. He was about everything educational.”

Saying Pantin was effective at everything he touched, Raphael said Pantin also made his mark in service to people.

“Politicians are elected to serve the people and not be bosses. He was like that. He never used to play any boss man for them because he was elected to serve them. He can certainly be praised for that.”

Raphael said he would now add Pantin to a prayer list he had been compiling of his deceased friends.

“I say a short prayer everyday for all of my deceased friends.”

Former Youth, Sport, Culture and the Creative Arts Minister Jennifer Johnson expressed shock at Pantin’s passing.

She said it was only one week ago her husband had asked about him.

“I am really sorry to hear about his passing because he is among the truly few people totally dedicated to the service of the country in my time working within those five years in the NAR,” said the former Princes Town MP.

“There are no ifs, ands or buts. He was just totally dedicated to what he was doing.”

Johnson recalled Pantin had played an integral role in the implementation of the Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme.

“He was in education and played a big role in that. That programme is still existing after almost 30 years.”

Extending sympathy to his family, Johnson said Pantin’s legacy would be his contribution to education. Former prime minister Basdeo Panday, who also served with Pantin in the NAR, described him as a rational individual.

“We were in the political struggle together at one time in the NAR,” he said.

“My only interaction with him was political and he was a fairly rational person, a reasonable politician.”