Ken Valley is dead

Former cabinet minister Kenneth Valley died Friday morning after a prolonged illness.

Valley was a senior member of the People's National Movement (PNM) and a former Deputy leader who served in the Manning cabinet up to 2007. 

He held the portfolios of Minister of Trade and Industry, Minister of Local Government and Minister in the Ministry of Finance. He and Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives

In 2007 PNM leader Patrick Manning rejected Valley to run as a candidate in the general election although Valley had the support of his constituency executive. Manning appointed Amery Browne as valley's political successor for the Diego Martin Central constituency.

In an interview with JYOTI in 2009, Valley predicted that the Manning administration would fall prematurely because of what he called Manning's "dictatorial ambitions". He said Kamla Persad-Bissessar would become prime minister if her party elected her as leader.

On Friday morning, Persad-Bissessar extended condolences to Valley's family and talked about their work together in Parliament while she served as an opposition member and leader of the opposition.

Foreign Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan also extended condolences. "My sincere & deepest condolences to the close family and friends of my former class mate Ken Valley. He was a true politician who understood what politics was about and his legacy will live on for years to come. May he rest in peace," Rambachan said in a message posted on the Internet.
 
Valley first entered Parliament as an Opposition Senator following the defeat of the PNM in the 1986 general election.

He successfully contested the Diego Martin Central constituency in a bye-election and retained the seat in the general elections of 1991, 1995, 2000, 2001, and 2002. 

In addition to his ministerial portfolios Valley chaired several Parliamentary Committees during his tenure in the House of Representatives including the Public Accounts Committee and the Joint Select Committee on legislation pertaining to bankruptcy and insolvency.

JYOTI extends its heartfelt condolences to the Valley family. Ken and I grew up together in our small village in Mc Bean.

Jai Parasram