My friend, the late John "Spinner" Donaldson was born to serve, like his father, John Shelford Donaldson Snr. He enjoyed more than anything else serving people.I have known John for well over 60 years. As a student of St Mary's College, he and several other students, among them Morris Douglas, Chuck Manswell, Everald Bastien, Joe Goddard and Joey Arneaud, would join our street lime under the lamp post light on Dundonald Street after extra lessons at the college. In those days–late 40s and early 50s–social mobility was restricted to who you were in the community. Most of the street light posse, like myself, the late Frankie Davies, Joe Young, Andrew Hinds, Wilber Archie etc, were counts of no account. As barrack room tenants, we were not even in the classification list; our place after dark was under the street light, or by Strand corner at Dundonald Street and Tragarete Road.
It was there that John "Spinner" Donaldson and some of the privileged boys joined us after night class, surely without the knowledge of their parents, and the holy fathers. Some time in the mid-50s, John left to further his education in Canada. During this period his late father–the then minister of education–died in a vehicular accident. John was unable to attend the funeral. I suppose shortly he will give his old man the reason for his absence.After his graduation, he entered into the diplomatic service as a young foreign service officer, under our first ambassador to Canada, Mr W Andrew Rose. It was the beginning of a career that led him to become our first ambassador to Nigeria almost 40 years ago, having served our young nation with distinction. Young John D was called upon in 1976 to make the supreme sacrifice to give up his secured career in the public service and enter the combative political jungle, to replace some of his friends and party colleagues who were unfortunately described as "millstones."
My friend John did not seek my advice. Had he done so, I certainly would have advised him against it. Having won the general election in 1976, John was appointed a senator, and given the two powerful portfolios of National Security and External Affairs. In his usual confident style, John D the diplomat became John D the politician after successfully contesting the POS north east seat in 1981.Unfortunately, five years later he became a victim of the political avalanche that almost exterminated the PNM. A defeated John returned to school and completed his legal exams and entered private practice. It was a very difficult period for him, his charming wife Madge, and his children who were still at school. John took it all in stride, never deserting his party or his friends. Like an old soldier, he retreated to advance, and advance he did with the return of the PNM in 1991.
He was again called to national service. As a loyal and dedicated citizen, he responded to the new leader only to be displaced three and a half years later. It was back to square one in 1995 as he once again returned to private practice a little more secure with all his children now qualified and employed. He then, more than ever, dedicated his services to the party founded by his father and godfather–John Shelford and De Wilton Rogers. He became party vice-chairman and political advisor to the political leader. John, the supreme loyalist and party disciple, gave more than his share of service in ensuring the party's return to power in 2002. As a senior officer in the balisier brigade, John never allowed this to interfere with his social relations with his friends–including me, when I was party organiser of the ONR.
His party was his party. His friends were his friends. Like his partner, the late Lennox Ballah, he was at his glorious best when assaulting a pint or two of good local rum. This complete Trinbagonian lived a complete life, engaging himself in everything Trini–Trini to the bone.To those who had the privilege of knowing him as I did, I can surely say we will all miss our dear and beloved friend. On behalf of the Dundonald Street and Kosmos posse, farewell dear brother, and our condolences to his wife Madge, his children, his family and the balisier brigade.
Ferdie Ferreira