The sudden passing of this country's first president Ellis Immanuel Innocent Clarke on Thursday night has left a "major void." Former People's National Movement deputy leader and former minister of energy Errol Mahabir, speaking in a brief telephone interview said yesterday: "I am deeply distressed by his passing." Mahabir said, "Sir Ellis' passing has left a major void in this country. I have been associated with Sir Ellis for many years. When I first became a minister and at my very first conference abroad I was accompanied by Sir Ellis, who was an ambassador at the time." The former minister, who paused while expressing his sentiments about the country's first president, said, "He served this county with distinction at various levels, the legal field, then a diplomat, Governor General, then as president."
"Of course he was heavily involved in the framing of our constitutions. Even after he retired he served his country very well, particularly in drafting of a new constitution. He has given his advice free on a number of legal issues which the country faced," Mahabir added. The former Minister said over the years he "remained close with Sir Ellis." President of the Banking Insurance and General Workers Trade Union and National Trade Union Centre General Secretary Vincent Cabrera said Sir Ellis "made an extremely valuable contribution, both in terms of his participation as one of the framers of the Republican constitution and a voice of conscience."