Oliver Flax, who was considered one of T&T's leading public relations professionals, died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday night at the San Fernando General Hospital.Flax, 69, of San Fernando, died around 10.37 pm, his son Warren confirmed yesterday, adding that his father had been ailing for some time with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a blood disorder.Flax was a PR manager at Trintoc and Petrotrin and went on to work at TSTT and UTT. He was also a former executive of the South Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
Yesterday, Petrotrin president Khalid Hassanali, speaking in a telephone interview, said he was "deeply saddened" to learn of Flax's death. He said he and Flax collaborated well during Flax's tenure at the state oil company when they handled negotiations with the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union.Hassanali said Flax spent a number of years in the human resource management field and "was very knowledgeable on the marine and on land environment."
San Fernando Business Association (SBA) president Daphne Bartlett said she knew Flax from his work with the chamber and at Petrotrin."We recognise his contribution to the oil industry and the South Chamber and of course the southern community and the country at large.Flax leaves to mourn his wife Diane and children Warren and Jo-Anne.Flax and his wife would have celebrated their 44th anniversary today. Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalised.