A grand funeral is being planned for Kelvin Ramnath, chairman of the Environmental Management Authority and former Couva South MP, who died on Saturday. Ramnath's eldest son, Kelvin Ramnath Junior, told the Guardian yesterday that his father died from a massive heart attack. The younger Ramnath and Rajiv Sieunarine, 55, a friend of the deceased, had returned from the autopsy around midday.
Ramnath, who was speaking from his father's home in La Romaine, said his father had a coronary bypass operation in 2007. However, the vessel that was used in the bypass was clogged and this led to the heart attack. Ramnath, who broke down in tears while speaking about his father, said the public would remember his father as an active and strong politician.
Ramnath described his father as a family man who made time for his four children and three stepchildren. Ramnath is survived by his four children Natalia Ramnath, 33; Kelvin Junior, 30; Devan Ramnath, 28 and Veda, 27. His first wife Golly Ramnath died in 1992. He also had three stepchildren Andrew, Dale and Lauren Sahatoo.
Describing his father, Ramnath said: "He was active in politics. He spend a lot of time with us. He spent a lot of time in his job. He took care of you. It's a great loss, he was always in touch with the people." Ramnath said his father was feeling well up to the time of his death. "He actually came back from a trip from Brazil and was doing well."
Ramnath said the funeral service is scheduled for Wednesday at the Balmain Presbyterian Church as "he was born and bred in Balmain." Ramnath who fought in the 2007 general election, after receiving the bypass operation, said he could have won the Couva South seat from a hospital bed.
Ramnath's last two general election campaigns were managed by Rudranath Indarsingh, the man who replaced him as the Couva South MP in the 2010 general election. Indarsingh was on hand to commiserate with relatives at the Ramnath home yesterday. Indarsingh said his relationship with Ramnath went back more than 20 years since Indarsingh's days with the All Trinidad Sugar and General Workers Trade Union.
Indarsingh said Ramnath was a strong advisor to him after the 2010 election. He said: "Kelvin Ramnath was Kelvin Ramnath. He did not mince his words. There would always be examples of his mannerism and ability to speak. He was at home on the political platform where he brought his sense of spice to the campaign. "He was a giant in the politics of T&T, a true soldier of the party having been the party organiser and he served as a MP.
"He had great debating and oratory skills and would always be known for the large contribution he made to politics and would be missed by the people of Couva South." Deborah Ramnath, Ramnath's second wife was greeted by Indarsingh and Nizam Baksh, former house speaker. However, Deborah was too distraught to speak with the media and did not want to be photographed.
