Federation holds Remembrance Service in honour of Professor Rex Nettleford

Professor, the Honourable Ralston Rex Nettleford

ZIZ News…March 3, 2010 – A service of remembrance in celebration of the life of professor, the Honourable Ralston Rex Nettleford, was held in the Federation of St.Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday March 3 2010.

One month following the passing of the esteemed Professor Nettleford, his university alumni and colleagues, government officials and other stakeholders of the diplomatic corp, assembled to display the high respect and regard they held for the professor.

He died on February 3 2010 after submitting to a massive heart attack, passing away on the eve of his 77th birthday.

The service was coordinated by the University of the West Indies Open Campus, and spearheaded by the country head for the tertiary education institution, Mrs. Olivia Edgecombe Howell.

Delivering remarks was the Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Sir K Dwight Venner. Governor Venner is also the Chairman of the UWI Open Campus and was a colleague of the professor.

He engaged the gathering with stories of the professor as a stalwart supporter of the oecs countries, in the quest for socio-economic development. The Governor said, “Professor Rex has made a major contribution during his stint as head of the University ecumenical development and continued this support during his tenure as Vice Chancellor. Among his contribution to the Eastern Caribbean, was his sponsorship as Head of the Ecumenical Department of a lectured tour throughout the islands in 1971, by a group of young post-grad students who lectured at UWI, Mona.”

Governor Venner continued that, “the purpose of the tour was to discuss unification of the small islands of the Eastern Caribbean, now known as the OECS. The group comprised of Vaughn Lewis, Mr Lestraud, Bernard Marshall, Ralph Gonsalves and Dwight Venner. We’ve all gone on to serve in high office in the OECS, inspired by that experience of which professors provided both intellectual and financial support.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister, the Honorable Dr Denzil Douglas, a patron of the UWI Alumni Association – St.Kitts – Nevis Chapter says the late professor presented a quality that resonate the standards and the ideals to which he always urged Caribbean citizens to aspire.

Dr Douglas said “this quality was evident in his every utterance, his every gesture and both his brilliant criticisms and deep and probing remuneration. As we think and we talk about Professor, let us also remember the importance of making certain that people throughout the region continues to think and talk about him for a very long time. In doing so, much will be stabilized, much will be clarified and we as a people will defiantly be uplifted.”

The UWI Open Campus also houses a book of condolences for nationals who are interested in paying their last respects to the late professor.