Long before Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Prof Selwyn Ryan joined the field of politics, they were colleagues at the University of the West Indies (UWI).
Now that the decade-long relationship, both professional and friendly, has come to an end, Rowley had nothing but high praises for the late professor at his funeral service yesterday.
“Professor Ryan was and is a leading light and example of the best we could be in our region,” Rowley said while addressing the service at the St Finbar’s Roman Catholic Church in Diego Martin.
The Prime Minister said as a country we frequently put down ourselves but there are occasions when we should lift ourselves up and that celebrating the life of Professor Ryan is one such time.
Professor Ryan died on March 12 after battling illness and throughout his lifetime he wrote 25 books, including ‘Eric Williams: The Myth and the Man in 2009’ and ‘Ryan Recalls – Selwyn Ryan: His Memoirs in 2019’.
He also worked at UWI for 30 years; was a newspaper columnist; and established scientific polling in Trinidad and Tobago through the St Augustine Research Associates (SARA).
Rowley said as a researcher he brought dignity and relevance to the field as he interacted with both the “big and small man” for his findings.
“He found them, recorded them, spoke about them, spoke to them, and educated us…” he said.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his wife Sharon greet Jan Ryan after the funeral service of Professor Selwyn Ryan at St Finbar's Roman Catholic Church, Morne Coco Road, Diego Martin, yesterday.
KERWIN PIERRE
The Prime Minister said he had tremendous respect for Professor Ryan who was not afraid to discuss delicate issues in this country like race, religion, ethnicity, and class.
He said the researcher was not speculative or biased when he presented the results of his findings.
It’s for this reason, Rowley discussed with him writing about the People’s National Movement, but he never got a chance to.
“I trust that somewhere in the fields that he would have travelled, amongst those he would have mentored that there is someone or there are others who will be prepared to complete the journey of education or research that he would have embarked upon,” the Prime Minister said.
Dr Roy McCree, who worked with Professor Ryan for 28 years, delivered the eulogy. He described him as a very cool, quiet, peaceful, polite, amicable and humble man.
“He was never the loudmouth-in-your-face, cantankerous type, much the opposite,” he said.
Dr McCree said Professor Ryan also liked to party and play mas.
He said he was also a family man, a father of two, a husband, and a brother.
“As Selwyn Ryan now ascends to meet the Ryan patriarch Earl Ryan and matriarch Sylvia Ryan whom I am sure when they see him will hold out there hand and say here is our son in whom we are well pleased,” he said.
Unable to hold back his tears, Dr McCree said those here on earth who interacted with him whether as a mentor, scholar, political historian, or son of the soil were also proud.
“May he Rest in Peace, Prof,” he cried.
