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| PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar signs a book of condolence for Sir Ellis |
Indeed, Trinidad and Tobago is now bereft of one of its longstanding founding heroes and his passing is a tremendous loss to the national community.
Sir Ellis Emmanuel Innocent Clarke proved by his life’s achievements the very essence of our country’s watchwords—how far we can as individuals and a people, go if we adhere to the strictures of “discipline, production and tolerance.”
His life itself was an inspirational testament to patriotism, dedication and nationalism.
That Sir Ellis was an island scholar who overcame the colonial obstacles and broke racial and other barriers that defined that era to successfully pursue his tertiary education in London; then become a lawyer in the 1940s and then ultimately become the first local Governor General was a reflection of the fact that a man’s ability, character and willpower is truly all it takes to attain greater heights, despite the odds against him.
His immediate service to this country’s public service and legal development via his many roles in the Colonial Government came in many forms—as Solicitor General, Deputy Colonial Secretary, Attorney General and Constitutional Advisor to the Cabinet.
He also served in various Post-Colonial diplomatic posts to ensure our fledging nation was best represented abroad. This again was a testimony to his commitment to nation-building at a time when Trinidad and Tobago needed local intellectuals to steer and develop its philosophy and political, social and economic stability both locally and abroad.
But perhaps his greatest contribution to our nation was his viable and crucial drafting of our country’s 1962 Constitution, which has founded the framework for Trinidad and Tobago’s democracy, for which we are internationally respected and which remains the bulwark for our administration of justice and our rule of law.
Throughout his long, fulfilling life, Sir Ellis not only remained steadfast in his contribution to our nation’s legal and social systems via dispute resolution, matters of the law (especially constitutional issues and most recently, his commitment to Constitutional Reform) and diplomatic conflicts.
He also impressed upon the wider world his intellectualism and legal brilliance, having been one of six experts worldwide asked to submit reports to Australia's Republic Advisory Committee in 1993 detailing our country's experience in moving from a Constitutional Monarchy to a Republic.
Until he fell ill last month, Sir Ellis remained the active exemplar of dignity and patriotism and our nation and citizens are truly forever indebted to him for all that he has given to us in every form.
As Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, I wish to extend, on my behalf, that of my family’s and of the Government’s, our heartfelt sympathies over Sir Ellis’s passing to his three children, grandchildren and all other family members, as well as his near and dear ones.
May God be with you all during this time of grief and loss and may you all be comforted in the knowledge that, as Mother Theresa once said, “Death is nothing else but going home to God, the bond of love will be unbroken for all eternity.”
To the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, I say we have lost a national hero but we should be assured that while great people must die, death can never kill their names.
The Government will give this great son of the soil and the veritable Grandfather of our Nation a State funeral, as is befitting his status and accomplishments as one of Trinidad and Tobago’s greatest legal and academic minds and a contributor to nation building.
Additionally, the National Flag will be flown at half mast, to indicate that we are a nation in mourning, until the day when Sir Ellis is laid to final rest.
Again, let me reiterate that we are indeed a nation is mourning and Sir Ellis’s great legacy shall always endure.
May his soul rest in peace.
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