Former president Sir Ellis Clarke passed away on Thursday night.
Outstanding citizens of T&T join in paying tribute to Sir Ellis.
Dr Keith Rowley MP-Leader of the Opposition and political leader of the PNM:
"It is with a sense of great sadness that we awoke to the news that on this, the last day of the year, Sir Ellis Clarke has passed away. A man of great intellectual strength, Sir Ellis has served this nation with quiet dignity and acknowledged distinction whether it was in the Public Service or at the preparations of our independence in 1962. "In this small nation which has produced many distinguished and acclaimed sons and daughters Sir Ellis Clarke stands out as a giant among those whose contributions have served and continue to serve us in our struggle to build a nation out of scattered hopes and lofty aspirations.
"With the death of Dr Eric Williams, Dr Rudranath Capildeo, Dr Patrick Solomon and their contemporaries, the current loss of the venerable Sir Ellis Clarke can be viewed as the end of an era, one of which we can all be proud, since it represented our birth as an independent nation and their lives work sustain us as we go forward into these challenging times with boundless faith in our destiny. "To the family of Sir Ellis Clarke, we offer our sincerest condolence as we also express our thanks for sharing him and allowing all of us to claim him as our own."
Dr Gordon Rohlehr-University of the West Indies lecturer:
"Sir Ellis had excellency of achievement and considerable dignity. He typified the era which he represented, the colonial era, and was also part of the transition into independence. "He was responsible for the Constitution and providing a bridge between the colonial era and post-independence. "His passing marks the end of an era. How many more are there in T&T who represent that moment of transition? "Sir Ellis was firmly rooted in the colonial era and was just as important for that movement into Independence. "Soon, there will be nobody directly representing that era."
Orville London, Chief Secretary, Tobago House of Assembly:
"On behalf of the Tobago House of Assembly and the people of Tobago, I extend sincerest condolences to the family, friends and numerous admirers of the former President, Sir Ellis Clarke, who died on Thursday evening. "Sir Ellis Clarke will be remembered as one of the two main contributors to the evolution of Trinidad and Tobago as a nation. "He played a pivotal role in every major constitutional change in the country over the past six decades and his advice, when sought, was willingly given to every administration, over the years. "Sir Ellis Clarke personified the best of Trinidad and Tobago. A brilliant academic who won an island scholarship in mathematics but went on to become a brilliant lawyer; he chose to spend most of his working life in the public service rather than in a lucrative private practice, and this country has benefited significantly from that decision.
"We, in Tobago, will remember him with fondness and appreciation, for his commitment to the improvement of Tobago's status in the relationship with Trinidad. It was Sir Ellis who admonished decision makers and the people of this country that they must ensure that the islands of Trinidad and Tobago walk "side by side, not one behind the other." "This statement which is as relevant now as when he made it 30 years ago, has become the mantra of Tobagonians of every political persuasion, as the quest for Tobago's autonomy continues. "Today, we mourn the passing of a great man but we must be consoled by the fact that he had a long and productive life and was able to contribute, even into the final months of his life. "May his soul rest in peace."
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan:
"My family and I join the rest of the national community in mourning the passing of Sir Ellis Emmanuel Innocent Clarke, a truly illustrious son of the soil. "Indeed he was a diplomat, a public servant, devoted father and husband, a devout Roman Catholic and a patriot in every sense of the word. "His exemplary conduct while in office and later in private life is recognised by the numerous accolades he has been awarded including the country's highest honor the Trinity Cross. "As a prominent member of the legal fraternity, he held an abiding interest in the legal fraternity, the justice system and was one of my mentors. "Sir Ellis's political and legal career spanned an important period in our nation's pre and post independence development. He brought a quiet sense of dignity and purpose to the Office of President, and vindicated a nation's national self confidence that prompted the change to a Republican constitution.
Theodore Guerra, SC:
"He was of the persons who inspired me to get into law. I grew up in Diego Martin and at that time he lived on Simeon Road, Petit Valley, and used to attend St John's RC Church. "I remembered when he came to church he would talk to the youngsters. He was my first interaction with a lawyer as I followed his career from the newspaper. "Sir Ellis inspired me to want to succeed as a lawyer and when I came back from the United Kingdom, he was then an acting judge. "It was one of the first courts I visited as a lawyer. I made myself known to him as the person from St John's RC Church and he gave me some advice. "He and Sir Isaac Hyatali took me under their wings and provided me with ways of educating myself to become a lawyer. "Sir Ellis has left the Constitution of T&T and his writings would always remain prominent in T&T. "We who were privileged to know him are saddened by his passing." John Humphrey-former National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) Minister:
"I remember going to him when he was president under the PNM government about the State's demolition of the houses of poor people. "He made a statement that they wanted to tie people under trees like horses. "I told him that part of the Preamble to the Constitution prohibited that and he agreed with me. "We spoke about how the Constitution was not taken seriously by attorneys and the courts. "The impression I got that Sir Ellis was a churchgoing and prayerful person who was not stuck to his material being but who recognised that there was a spiritual aspect to humanity."
Chief Justice Ivor Archie
The Judiciary joins his family, close friends and the national community in mourning the passing of Sir Ellis Clarke. We are saddened by this loss, which comes at the end of a long and fruitful life, most of it lived in distinguished and unparalleled service to Trinidad and Tobago. His name is associated with almost every major milestone in this country's quest for nationhood: from the authoring of the Constitution that would shape our system of governance, and entrench the rule of law and our rights as a free people, to the creation of the many institutions which laid the foundation upon which modern and independent Trinidad and Tobago now rests.
Through it all, Sir Ellis was the consummate statesman, an exemplary leader, and an always willing and dedicated, yet humble icon. His passing will deprive the country of his incisive sagacity that he so generously shared to the very end, but the nation in general, and his family in particular, can take consolation from the fact that through his life Trinidad and Tobago and its citizens are in a better place than they might otherwise have been. The Judiciary extends its deepest condolences to the Clarke family.
Basdeo Panday-former prime minister and opposition leader:
"I have known him for a very long time. We were both part of a political world. He was an icon and extremely brilliant, intellectually, and very knowledgable in the law, especially with respect to the Constitution. "Sir Ellis served with distinction. "But I remember him most of all for his capacity to live. He realised, like me, that one thing God put us on this earth for is to be happy. "Sir Ellis was a lover of life. He knew how to live. I admired him most of all for that. "Whenever you saw him he was never grumpy or sad or complaining. He was always happy. I pray that God would let his soul rest in peace."
Dr Carson Charles -former NAR government minister:
"Sir Ellis was president when I was sworn in as a minister. He was a citizen we should be proud of, not only for his accomplishments, but for who he was as a person. "When he was no longer president, he maintained a certain stature. One may have had differences of opinion with him but he maintained a certain dignity of conduct throughout his life. "He was always there to give advice to the nation. He elevated the office of president to how it should be seen. "Sir Ellis lived a full life and I'm sorry to see him pass."