Trinidad and Tobago loses faithful servant Cowie

THE EDITOR: This week TT lost one of its most faithful servants. Prof Lancelot Cowie served primarily through education at the University of the West Indies for several decades. A lecturer of Spanish and Latin American studies, Cowie always championed the use of education as the answer to poverty.

The Tobago-born educator also completed spells of national service as TT's ambassador to Cuba and as a public servant in the Ministry of National Security.

In his last three decades, much of his work focused on Latin America and the Caribbean. Cowie authored several works revolving around the drug trade, pan-African thought and combating poverty.

His engagement with the diplomatic corps in TT along with his years of living and networking throughout Latin America have undoubtedly played a key role in bringing the Caribbean closer to its Latin brothers and sisters.

Ultimately, Cowie believed that in order for the developing world to progress it needs to embrace education and empathy, as the only form of development that is acceptable is human-oriented and accounts for the lowest in society.

Therefore, for all of his adult life, he dedicated his time and energies to serving others, edifying impressionable minds and, in his own way, subsequently building a better society. The professor himself said it best, "The exhilarating effect of effective teaching is to see the success of your graduate students."

Prof Cowie gave his best for the younger generation and for TT. Sincere condolences to his friends, family and the many who would have been positively impacted by his efforts.

JADE-MARK SONILAL

Maraval