political stalwart pass on*
Published on Dec 30, 2016, 8:12 pm AST
By Ria Taitt
ria.taitt@trinidadexpress.com
Nicholas Simonette, who was the first general secretary of the People’s National Movement (PNM), has died.
Simonette who celebrated his 91st birthday on December 5, died on Thursday night.
Party stalwart Ferdie Ferriera yesterday described Simonette, who was the longest-serving general secretary of the PNM, as one of the forgotten heroes of the PNM.
Ferriera said when the party won the 1956 elections and all its top officers entered the government as ministers, the party’s administrative and political structure suffered terribly.
He said it was in disarray, until Williams persuaded Simonette to resign his job as a senior school teacher, “sacrificing a pension and financial securityâ€, to take the important administrative and political role of general secretary.
Ferriera said Simonette, who inherited a vibrant but disorganised political structure, was responsible for the reconstruction of the party machinery.
Published on Dec 30, 2016, 8:12 pm AST
By Ria Taitt
ria.taitt@trinidadexpress.com
Nicholas Simonette, who was the first general secretary of the People’s National Movement (PNM), has died.
Simonette who celebrated his 91st birthday on December 5, died on Thursday night.
Party stalwart Ferdie Ferriera yesterday described Simonette, who was the longest-serving general secretary of the PNM, as one of the forgotten heroes of the PNM.
Ferriera said when the party won the 1956 elections and all its top officers entered the government as ministers, the party’s administrative and political structure suffered terribly.
He said it was in disarray, until Williams persuaded Simonette to resign his job as a senior school teacher, “sacrificing a pension and financial securityâ€, to take the important administrative and political role of general secretary.
Ferriera said Simonette, who inherited a vibrant but disorganised political structure, was responsible for the reconstruction of the party machinery.