The death of Kamaluddin Mohammed at the beginning of this month saw the passing of a great patriot who was central to the development of so many aspects of national life, both in his personal and political pursuits. In so many ways he epitomised the virtues of hard work and commitment to duty as key drivers for success in his own life.
People remember him for his simplicity and not for pomposity. He came from humble beginnings and despite his own successes in politics and public life, he remained committed to the value of always maintaining humility in the face of the grandeur of office.
Before he entered politics, he was renowned as a cultural impresario and broadcaster. This was seen in his own involvement with the launch of the programme Indian Talent on Parade in 1947, on Radio Trinidad.
Some felt it was an attempt to promote separation, while others recognised that it was about the validation of the cultural identity of a large part of the population.
In those days, before Radio Trinidad launched his programme in 1947, those who had radios in rural Trinidad and elsewhere could only listen to Indian music on Radio ZFY from British Guiana.
After he started his show on Radio Trinidad, he used to invite the Naya Zamana Orchestra of Ostad Nazear Mohammed, Narsaloo Ramaya and Isaac Mohammed; Jit Seesahai and his Melody Makers; and the SM Aziz Orchestra, as well as many others.
Things have changed markedly from the days when one hour a week was allocated on Radio Trinidad for Indian music out of 119 hours a week in the colonial era. As a pioneer in this aspect of his life, he certainly blazed a trail that has left a rich legacy of diversity in our society today.
The early formation of the PNM can be traced back to discussions he and others had with Dr Williams at the Dil Bahar restaurant at 55C Queen Street in Port-of-Spain, which he regarded as the birthplace of the PNM before its launch.
Once in government, Kamal served in the Williams Cabinet from the beginning and made his mark in agriculture, public utilities, regional affairs, foreign affairs, health and local government.
Indeed, a few years after independence, he was chosen by Dr Williams to try and create a platform on which the region could move forward. The formation of Carifta, the desire of Anguilla to secede from St Kitts and Nevis, the formation of the Caribbean Development Bank, the reorganisation and refinancing of British West Indian Airways (BWIA), and the future of the University of the West Indies were all issues that commanded attention in the late 1960s.
He was involved in all of these negotiations in one way or another. Carifta led to Caricom, the Caribbean Development Bank was formed, Anguilla was determined to secede from St Kitts and Nevis, BWIA is now CAL, and UWI remains a regional institution.
In his address at the University of the West Indies when he was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2011, he stated that one of the most daunting challenges at that time concerned the future of the University of the West Indies itself. That became an issue at a meeting of Commonwealth Caribbean Heads of Government in Barbados in June 1969.
The agreement between the contributing governments to the University of the West Indies was due to expire in 1972 and fortunately, the regional governments decided subsequently to continue with the University of the West Indies after 1972. He recalled how committed Dr Williams was to the continuation of UWI and that as Minister of West Indian Affairs, he was pleased to be part of that process.
There is one aspect of his public life that probably pained him and that was when he was bypassed for appointment as prime minister upon the death of Dr Eric Williams in March 1981. Whatever happened on the night of March 29, 1981, that led to the appointment of George Chambers as prime minister by President Ellis Clarke will remain a mystery forever. All of the key persons have now passed on. Kamal formed the view that the decision had been made before he arrived at President’s House that night as he was driven without security, while George Chambers arrived in a “police-escorted vehicle”.
In writing Chapter 12 of his biography, I interviewed Kamal on April 27, 1996, about his impressions of that night. I sensed that he had made peace with himself about the fact that the decision had already been made before he got to President’s House and that the “consultation” between himself, Errol Mahabir, Francis Prevatt, and President Clarke “was purely decorative”.
Despite this, he stayed and continued to serve the new prime minister, George Chambers in his Cabinet. After the PNM lost in 1986, he withdrew from public life until he was recalled to service by prime minister Basdeo Panday during his 1995-2001 administration to take up the position of Ambassador to Caricom.
A patriot has passed and his service to country will not be forgotten.