While he had an illustrious political career that spanned two decades, government minister and former MP Franklin Khan was mostly remembered for his kind and friendly personality in his childhood village in Mayaro. Several residents of Makefing Village and environs expressed shock and sadness over his sudden passing yesterday morning.
They recalled seeing "Frankie," as they fondly called him, in the area just two weeks ago. He had started constructing a building on the lot where his childhood home once stood. As her eyes welled with tears, his aunt Haniffa Khan, who lives a short distance from Khan’s family home, said she also saw him.
While they knew he had triple bypass surgery, she said no one expected that he would die. “It is a big shock.” The 72-year-old woman said Khan’s son and wife called her with the tragic news. “Up to last night they say he was well. They said he just got up and he sat down on the couch and all of a sudden they just see like he sleeping and when they watch is dead he dead. That’s what his son tell me.”
The aunt said that on Tuesday he took the COVID-19 vaccine but she did not think that had anything to do with his passing. His job, she said, was a stressful one and she had begged him to hang up his political hat. His aunt said he told her that this was going to be his last term in office. “And you see what happen now?” She said she will miss their regular conversations on the telephone.
Haniffa Khan looks at pictures of her nephew Energy Minister Franklin Khan at her home in Mayaro.
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Cecil Guy, 82, was one of the residents he used to spend his spare time with as a child, talking politics and playing cards. Asked about Khan’s trademark smile, he said his parents were the same way. “That’s the way he was from small. We use to play Rummy there and whatever argument, that smile always there.” However, he felt that as Khan came from the bowels of the community he could have done more to develop the area. “He should have done more here. He did not do enough.”
Rrimattee Balroop, who grew with Energy Minister Franklin Khan, said he was a quiet person.
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Primattee Balroop who was close friends with Khan’s sister recalled that he was always inside studying, but he loved politics. She said, “He was always like a favourite in Mafeking. Everybody liked him. While some residents who spoke off the record was not happy with him during his tenure as Ortorie/Mayaro MP, Jetro Toussaint said Khan performed well. “He could not have done more than he did,” he said.
Opposition Mayaro MP Rushton Paray also paid tribute to him. “Throughout his years in public service he retained great affinity to the communities of Mayaro, Guayaguayare and surrounding areas. We were on different political sides and held contrasting positions on national development, but I appreciated Mr Khan’s public service and his loyalty to the community of his birth.”
Jetro Toussant said he was saddened to hear of the passing of Energy Minister Franklin Khan.
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PNM constituency chairman Clifford Campbell said the constituency has been plunged into deep mourning. “Frankie, as he was affectionately known by all was a ‘Mayaro boy’ and one who we were proud of having risen to the top of his profession in the oil sector as well as in the national politics as serving as minister of government and party chairman.”
A sad feeling also hovered over the community in Sewlal Trace, Pepper Village, Fyzabad where he lived with his wife for some time. Krishna Ramlogan who bought Khan’s house when he moved to Moka said they knew each other for many years and even worked together in the energy sector. “Frankie was always a very amicable, very pleasant guy and he knew the business. He was always very committed to whatever he was doing.”
Fyzabad Chamber of Commerce president Clint Arjoon said his death was a great loss to the community of Fyzabad and the country. Thanking Khan for bringing the Children’s Court to Fyzabad, he said it has created some commerce both directly and indirectly.
Also expressing his condolences was former councillor Dansam Dhansook who caused Khan to be arrested on corruption charges after he accused him of taking a bribe. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions subsequently dropped the charges in 2010. “May God bless his soul,” Dhansook said before ending the call.