BOBIE-LEE DIXON
(bobie-lee.dixon@guardian.co.tt)
"Life is a ladder. We (parents) can only climb up to a certain point and then it's for you the children to climb up a little higher, so whatever point we stop, the children have to go higher. If this does not happen, then you would not have done your duty as a parent."—Keith Sobion, (Former T&T attorney general)
It's this 'creed' Keith Sobion instilled in his three sons, Jules, Justin and Darien, which they each incorporated as part of their personal belief system. And it's a good thing they have, as with those words foremost in their minds, they have been able to carry on their father's legacy through their various professions.
His eldest Jules 41, tells us, “He was always firm on legacy and what he did for us, he is expecting us to surpass it and leave an inheritance for our children's children.”
"Teaching is more than imparting knowledge, it is inspiring change."—William Arthur Ward (Writer of inspirational maxims)
“Boys, let's talk,” would usually be the cue for the Sobion brothers to know their father was about to impart some lifelong lessons. At the time, it may have seemed unnecessary and even bothersome to the then anxious teens. But later in life, they would recognise why their father, also a former minister of legal affairs, often had these random chats with them, instilling values they admit, set them on the right path.
"Memoir is about handing over your life to someone and saying, 'this is who I am, and maybe you can learn something from it'."—Jeannette Walls (American author and journalist)
Sobion's bits of advice, his parables and philosophies which he shared with his sons, and pretty much whoever was eager to drink from his “well of knowledge”, are just a few interesting topics discussed in the memoir titled, The Story of a West Indian Lawyer—Keith Sobion, due to launch in April 2020.
Of this Caribbean 'entity', as he was often described by those close to him, his life is chronicled in the 16 chapters of the book, written by his second-born, Justin Sobion, a lawyer and Associate Human Rights Officer in the Office of the President of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
Justin, 39, began writing the memoir two years after his father's passing, in 2010, with the perspective that his father's legacy had to be preserved in some way. He also feels the contributions of many great leaders in T&T are not well archived. It took him eight years to complete.
The lengthy period, he said, was due to a number of challenges, one being his emotional state—writing not about a fictional character, but the man he called 'dad'.
Complications also stepped in, gathering information from Keith's political life, which in itself was a daunting task. Justin had to interview several politicians, including Basdeo Panday, Patrick Manning (deceased) and Brian Kuei Tung, all of whom his father would have interacted with during his political tenure.
It became even more tedious in his quest to assemble the political aspect on the controversial Glen Ashby hanging, which occurred under his father's watch as AG. Keith subsequently received much criticism for that hanging despite his attempt to have the execution stalled to wait on the Privy Council's ruling.
"I will say with memoir, you must be honest…you must be truthful."—Elie Wiesel (Romanian-born American Jewish writer, professor, and political activist)
As much as the book depicts the “good” that was Keith, Justin said it also acknowledges his human frailties and speaks to many “behind the scenes”, things which occurred in his capacity as AG. It even shares some intimate details of his family life like disagreements he would have had with his wife, Judith and some “notes on a scandal”, the untold stories behind the Glen Ashby hanging. Some of these “personal” bits didn't sit well with few family members, but Justin chose his courage of conviction.
“From a son's perspective, I didn't want to write only about his “good” and the fact that everybody liked him or that he was an awesome family man, a good AG or the fact that he should have been senior counsel. People know that” Justin explains.
“I kind of just wanted to write the controversial things, even about the stuff he confided in us. He'd probably be laughing, particularly because, in death, no one could sue him for defamation. Even though his good overshadowed his bad, I think all of him needed to be told.”
In the memoir, also concealed are political conversations like the one between Keith and Finance Minister Colm Imbert as well as his attempt to stop the 1990 coup.
His days as a law student in Barbados and associate tutor at the Hugh Wooding Law School, to become principal of the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica and co-founder of the Eugene Dupuch Law School in Nassau Bahamas, are also well recorded.
According to his sons, Keith was adamant on regional integration and saw such potential in the islands coming together. It's perhaps why a few passages are dedicated to his Commonwealth travels. They said there was not a Commonwealth Caribbean nation that he did not visit. In fact, he sojourned in Jamaica for the last 12 years of his life.
"Without black, no colour has any depth."—Amy Grant (American, singer/songwriter)
Also transcribed are narratives of Keith, the Pan African-summaries of his “pro-black” days from his walk with NJAC (National Joint Action Committee) to his involvement in the 1970 Black Power Movement.
One would also get the chance to learn of Keith the comedian, as he was thought to have a unique sense of humour, which went well with his unintentional charm.
"Creative people have it hard. There is always something trapped in their noggins yearning to escape like a caged animal, both too free and wild to contain. Little does the world know it will often scrape the inner walls of the mind until it gets what it wants."—HS Crow (American author/poet)
We discover Keith was not all suit and tie, as the book also illustrates his love for the arts and culture and his events coordinating skills. Most of this was evident in his role as director of a 1980s popular club called Impact Disco, which was situated on Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, opposite City Hall. It was even patronised by the Jackson Five (Michael Jackson and brothers) on their only visit to T&T.
"Some people don't believe in heroes, but they haven't met my dad."—Unknown
The Sobions' interview with the Sunday Guardian about their father is light-hearted, reflective, and authentic, revealing apparent attributes of their father in each of them, supposedly passed on genetically.
They each speak of their father's personal influence in their lives and though they wish he were still here, they boasted that his nurturing, scolding teaching and love created in each of them the greater man he knew they'd become.
Asked what they believed he would say if he could read the memoir, in a chorus they respond, “He would laugh and he would also be surprised. We think he believed he made a significant contribution to the country and he was also a huge fan of the biographies of other Caribbean luminaries, so we think he would be happy to know he is part of the history now.”
In loving memory
Jules
A bespectacled Jules, CEO of Caesar's Army, laughs as he recalls his father's expression when told of an event he wanted to host and title 'Dark'.
“After I told him the concept would be to host the event every Friday the 13th and the dress code would be black, he found it to be so morbid and asked why not introduce folklore characters to the concept and in so doing, I'd be teaching people about T&T folklore.”
He told me he would support me but ensure anything I did, it should have substance and people must be able to benefit from it.
He said, " 'You are not encouraging people to drink and drive or to have unprotected sex because of all the activities of the party, but try to have a party with meaning and substance.' That advice I hold very near and dear."
Darien
Through Keith's youngest, Darien 37, who the family labels as the “most intelligent”, he really demonstrates a “cocktail” of his father's talents and gifting via his marketing company Caribbean 10.
“All of what we do represents in some way, a legacy of what dad had taught us, and now we're just carrying it forward as a part of his mission.”
Justin
“I think the only thing my father would be disappointed about if he were alive today is the state of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The Court is here and T&T is paying money to run it, but yet T&T is not a member of the court.”
Who is Keith Sobion?
• Keith Sobion was born in Mayaro on September 15, 1951, to Otto and Clerine Sobion.
• He served as Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs during the fourth Republican Parliament (1991-1995). • He was elected to represent the constituency of Ortoire/Mayaro. Prior to this, he served as a temporary opposition senator during the third Republican Parliament.
• After attending St Mary's College, Sobion went on to study at the University of the West Indies. He then attended Hugh Wooding Law School where he gained his Legal Education Certificate. He was a senior member of the Law Association of T&T. He was also an ardent sports fanatic involved with the Harvard Sports Club and had a keen interest in football, cricket and chess.
• Sobion passed away on February 14, 2008 of renal failure. Tributes were paid to him in the House of Representatives on February 15, 2008.
• The most controversial part of his political career was the hanging of prisoner Glen Ashby who was on death row for murder.
Information courtesy:www.ttparliament.org, Jules Sobion