La Brea hails late MP Fitzgerald Jeffery a 'true patriot'

Julia Mc Milan-Jeffrey, centre, blesses the body of her husband Fitzgerald Jeffery, a former La Brea MP, alongside their daughter Tehilla Jeffery and Fr Wilfred John during his funeral at St Joseph RC Church, Vance River on Saturday morning. PHOTO BY CHEQUANA WHEELER
Julia Mc Milan-Jeffrey, centre, blesses the body of her husband Fitzgerald Jeffery, a former La Brea MP, alongside their daughter Tehilla Jeffery and Fr Wilfred John during his funeral at St Joseph RC Church, Vance River on Saturday morning. PHOTO BY CHEQUANA WHEELER

FITZGERALD MC Arthur Jeffrey was remembered as a true patriot of La Brea by chairman of the People’s National Movement La Brea constituency Wayne Wood.

Jeffrey, fondly called “Fitzy” and “Mac”, was laid to rest at the Brighton Cato cemetery following a service conducted by Fr Wilfred John at the St Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Vance River on Saturday morning.

On behalf of the political leader of the Prime Minister, the party’s leadership and members, Wood thanked Jeffrey for his 41 years of service to the party and country.

He thanked Jeffrey’s wife Julia and daughter Tehilla, who both delivered eulogies, for lending him to them.

Wood recalled when the PNM lost the 2010 general election and retained only 12 seats in the Parliament, Jeffrey was counted as one of the “12 disciples.”

He said being in the opposition, work as a representative was made difficult due to a lack of resources, but Jeffrey understood how to work with people and councillors to get things done with the goal of returning the PNM to governance.

He said he stood as a strong advocate for the construction of a smelter plant in La Brea in the face of opposition, because he thought it would have brought jobs and an economic revival of the constituency.

When he was not re-elected to serve the party in 2015, he took the decision with a smile because he was not a man who loved office, Wood said.

“He was a shining light, someone to go to and depend on for his support. The chief whip often turned to him to contribute to many debates in the Lower House and he would simply say, “Sister I would try” but he did not just try, he delivered.”

He said his hallmarks were his "honesty, humility, and humanity.”

The former MP also served as the high commissioner to Jamaica, Haiti and the Dominican Republic but was recalled from that position due to his failing health.

The South West Regional Health Authority is currently reviewing the care Jeffery, 69, received at the Point Fortin Area Hospital before his death. Earlier this year, Jeffery began a fund to raise US$1 million for a lung transplant.

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