A public figure of note who was bold, someone who served in T&T’s highest legal forums—and a former St Joseph MP who supported his successor even though it was his political opponent.
Such tribute has been paid to late former judge and People’s Partnership (PP) minister and St Joseph MP Herbert Volney, who died yesterday morning.
Former PP government members Jack Warner, Chandresh Sharma and Roodal Moonilal paid tribute to Volney.
As did PNM St Joseph MP Terrence Deyalsingh, who succeeded Volney in St Joseph, and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture Avinash Singh.
Volney, 69, died just before 8 am, it’s understood.
His wife Tricia didn’t answer calls yesterday. But other relatives said Volney had complained of chest pains on Monday and was taken to the nearby Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope, then a private St Joseph facility for a procedure.
His relatives were contacted around 7 am yesterday to come to the facility. But he died just before 8 am.
Volney, known to have suffered from heart disease, had heart surgery in 2010.
Colourful and controversial, beyond his period as a judge of the High Courts, Volney’s entry into politics in 2010 with the UNC/PP coalition saw him appointed T&T’s first Justice Minister.
But in 2012, his downfall came with the infamous Section 34 issue.
Ahead of tomorrow’s tributes in the House of Representatives, Deyalsingh said, “St Joseph has lost one of its own. I’m very saddened at the news, especially as he contacted me about an issue just last week.
“He supported me in many ways and I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family—May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Warner said, “He had a stellar career as an officer of the courts, an attorney, a Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions and as a judge and the service that he provided, though sometimes controversial, will be remembered by the people.
“He left the Judiciary to offer his service as a politician to the people at a very difficult period in our history. What was magnanimous of him was that he sacrificed his career at a time when there were no guarantees, long before ‘Kamlamania’ took root, but he was convinced that if T&T needed men of ilk to stand up to save our nation, he was prepared to be one of them.”
Warner added, “Sadly, he offered himself as the sacrificial lamb for the Section 34 fiasco. It’s a pity he was never given the opportunity to provide the kind of change to the judicial system of which he dreamt. Definitely, he was a public figure of note, one who was bold and with the character to challenge the evil that is among us and score a defining victory for the people.”
File: Former government minister Herbert Volney, second from left, with cabinet colleagues during a retreat in Tobago in July 2012.
ROBERTO CODALLO
UNC colleagues: A colourful, mercurial man who loved people
Singh said, “Though we were in opposing parties, we always had a cordial relationship. Lately, Mr Volney was very interested in my agricultural posts about produce at my parents’ farm. I invited him to visit only a few weeks ago– but it never materialised. May his soul find eternal peace.”
Sharma said, “He served T&T at its highest legal forums– as a judge and in Parliament. I was a member of UNC’s screening team which interviewed him and he stood out–an outstanding personality. His focus was all about people.”
“I spoke with him last month when I was in India when he called me . Even though he wasn’t an MP, he never lost concern for T&T. He was close friends with Dominica’s Prime Minister and followed what that PM was doing to improve people’s lives.”
Moonilal added: “It was with a deep sense of sadness and grief I learned of his passing . I have very fond memories–we always enjoyed a fraternal relationship. And I was always taken aback by his sense of humour .”
“But I saw in him a deep love for his country. Notwithstanding the difficult times, we always remained in contact through social media and sometimes meetings even accidentally,” Moonilal said.
UNC stalwart Devant Maharaj said, “My colleague was as colourful a character in Cabinet as he was in the judiciary. Always a quick wit, he often painted himself as the custodian of Catholic values in cabinet and representing those with mixed heritage, as he was equally proud of his Dominican roots.”
“Volney’s removal from office, however, appeared to have had a serious mental/ emotional impact upon him as his political focus evolved into a singular bitterness that appeared to consume his latter years. With no prior political experience to his assuming office in 2010 Volney styled himself as a political expert , often making news with wild allegations or political positions,” Maharaj also said.
