UN Ambassador calls on citizens to love each other

STACY MOORE

TT Ambassador to the United Nations Makeda Antoine on Friday called on citizens to love, care and show forgiveness towards each other now as tomorrow is not promised to anyone.

“We always think we have time, but time is not ours. The time to love, care and forgive each other is now,” she said. At the time Antoine was delivering one of the eulogies at the funeral of her mother Pearlin Daniel Antoine, 76. Pearlin died on March 1. The funeral was held at the Quarry Village Seventh Day Adventist church near Siparia.

Last November, Antoine was appointed as TTs Ambassador to the Permanent Mission of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. An emotional Antoine said her mother had been with her encouraging her and supporting her throughout her journey, and she was a phenomenal woman whom she looked up to.

“My mother talked about feminism and female empowerment. Yesterday (Thursday) was International Woman’s Day and today at her funeral service, I want to celebrate my mother for all that she has done,” a tearful Antoine said. Her mother, she said, was one of the most generous women she knew and many could attest to this. “She would give you groceries if you were in need. My mother would take her last pocket change to give someone who needed money. She was a generous woman.”

Antoine said her family’s home was a place of shelter to even strangers. Her mother was also an avid reader.

Analeyah Ryan, who also spoke about Antoine, her great grand-mother, said she would also remembered for her sense of fashion, in particular her love for hats. As a tribute, most of the women at the service wore fashionable hats.

Ryan said Antoine had the biggest heart and loved reading and writing.

“She loved word puzzles and I would also help her solve some puzzles,” she said. Ryan told a story of a stray cat in the village which became the family pet because Antoine fed the cat everyday. She laughed saying that to this day they don’t know who the cat belonged to. Attending the funeral was former culture minister Joan Yuille-Williams who extended condolences on behalf of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.