Veteran journalist, cricket commentator and public relations practitioner Ken Ablack who passed away on Tuesday will be buried following a funeral service at 10 am today. Ablack died age 91. His funeral service will be held at St Finbar's RC Church, Westmoorings. Ablack was a leading figure in journalism and a high profile member in the early life of the PNM. He was among the founding members of the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR).
Ablack, a retired public servant, was an island scholarship winner from QRC. He went on to Oxford University. He had a colourful history being the first West Indian cricket commentator on the BBC in the 1950s and had also been the producer of the BBC's Caribbean division. While living in London Ablack had also been involved with the UK's Foreign Colonial Office. Ablack also worked with the office of the Prime Minister under late prime minister Dr Eric Williams as director of public relations between 1962 and 1969. Ablack had succeeded Owen Mathurin in that office.
Yesterday, officials of the Office of the Prime Minister who once worked with Ablack, expressed condolences to his family on his passing. During the NAR's tenure, Ablack had been the party's public relations officer and strategist. He had also been a former chairman of the now defunct NBS state-owned radio station which later merged with the also defunct TTT. His son Robert said yesterday, "He served T&T tirelessly." Ablack's wife Barbara (Terry) who had also been involved in the NAR, died several years ago. He leaves to mourn his children Cecile, Robert, Gillian, Joanne and Patrick, five grandchildren and other relatives.