Erminy illuminated lives

EDWIN ERMINY BAYLEY, the National Drama Association (NDATT) president who drowned off the North Coast on New Year’s Eve, was laid to rest after a funeral at the St Ann’s RC Church yesterday.

Family, friends and co-workers gathered at an intimate ceremony where they paid their final respects and found comfort in each other.

As several people contributed, each described Erminy as a light who did his best to illuminate people’s lives with art and love for his fellow man.

Prof Kwame Ryan, director of the University of TT’s Academy for the Performing Arts, said Erminy was a “radiant being whose entire reason for being was love, and through that love he would make art.

“The same way Edwin showed us how to apply humanity as a part of beauty and art, he has also shown us that humanity, once gifted, transforms.” Ryan recounted the last gift Erminy gave him before he died, a book, Dance on the Volcano.

“As he handed me the gift, he was all excited. He revealed that the gift was a book. He said: ‘I think this book is really interesting and I think it is something you could make art out of.’

“On New Year’s Eve, as I realised how meaningful the gift was, I got it from the bag. I was deeply moved because I felt it so perfectly encapsulated Edwin’s spirit.”

In her eulogy, Heidi Diquez described Erminy as selfless, loving and kind.

“Edwin was funny and wonderful to be around. Edwin was an inspiration; he was always smiling and sharing his love with all. We all aspire to become like him and work towards it every day of our lives,” she said as she related several messages from the many institutions in which Erminy was involved. The Bayley-Henderson family also shared similar sentiments about Erminy’s selfless nature.

Diquez continued, “Edwin as a kid was laughter and a joy for his grandparents, uncles and aunties in Venezuela. All the people in our family are very proud of his achievements and focus in accomplishing a higher level of understanding.”

Diquez also passed on comments from the TT Solidarity Association – an NGO which provides support for Venezuelans who have migrated to Trinidad. The association said Erminy’s work ethic and desire for social justice were an inspiration to all. “For many in our team Edwin was an authentic mediator; he was a peace keeper and a peace maker; he was a reconciler,” Diquez said on the association’s behalf.

Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Harris, in his homily, described Erminy as a miracle worker, who was already in the arms of the Almighty.

“We tend to think that miracles are always the change of the natural order of things, but that is not always the case,” Harris said.

“A miracle is simply a marvel. And miracles are not reserved to the saints and to Jesus. Miracles are things that all human beings can work.”

Harris encouraged the congregation to emulate Erminy’s selflessness and charitable nature, saying that from the minute each person was born, they should be preparing to face the Lord and speak on the good works they had done.

On December 31, Erminy died during an outing to the Grande Riviere Beach.

He taught at the Academy for the Performing Arts of the UTT. He was an architect and a scenographer with a master of arts from Central St Martins College of Art and Design in London.

He was also the technical director of the Caracas International Festival of Theatre and the International Festival of Afro-American Traditions, and had designed over 100 productions for theatre, opera, musicals, dance, ballet and popular music, as well as corporate, fashion and publicity events in Venezuela, Colombia, USA and TT.

After the service, Erminy was cremated in a private ceremony.