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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, (April 29, 2017 )— Prime Minister and Political Leader of the Peoples Labour Party (PLP) Dr the Hon Timothy Harris was on Saturday morning April 29 among hundreds of relatives, friends, and well-wishers at the funeral of the late Mr Charles McDougal Brisbane OBE, which was held at the Immaculate Conception Co-Cathedral in Basseterre.

 

Leading the nation in mourning the late iconic businessman was the Governor General Sir Tapley Seaton, GCMG, CVO, QC, JP. In attendance were members of the Unity Government cabinet, and the only living National Hero Sir Rt Excellent and Rt Hon Dr Sir Kennedy Simmonds and Lady Simmonds. Also in attendance was Leader of the Opposition the Rt Hon Dr Denzil Douglas.

 

Officiating at the solemn but warm service, where some eulogies read by family members of the late Brisbane elicited laughter from the congregation, was Father Manuel Antao SVD. Among the Cabinet members in attendance were the Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Shawn Richards, the Hon Eugene Hamilton, the Hon Ian Patches Liburd, and the Hon Wendy Phipps.

 

In a message of condolences on the passing of Mr Brisbane, Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris had on Monday evening (April 24) said that he had known the late businessman for practically of his (PM’s) life.

 

“For decades he was the face behind the company of O D Brisbane and Sons Limited, a family-owned wholesale business which he operated originally from Princess Street, Basseterre, and then from the C A Paul Southwell Industrial Estate up until the business was sold to Goddard Enterprises of Barbados,” observed the Prime Minister.

 

According to Dr Harris, Mr Brisbane who emigrated to St. Kitts over 60 years ago from his native country of St. Vincent’s and the Grenadines would be remembered well for his leadership in the private sector. He served as President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce in the 1970s and then again in the early 1990s.

 

In his message of condolence, the Prime Minister Harris observed that Mr Brisbane would have also served two stints as a Director of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), from 1976-1977 and from 1990-1991.

 

He added that Mr Brisbane was duly recognised for his services to CAIC in February 2009 when he was presented with an Appreciation Award, together with two of his other private sector contemporaries, the late Mr William Kelisck OBE, CSM, former Chairman of S L Horsford & Company Ltd; and Mr Michael King OBE, former chairman of TDC Ltd.

 

The immediate former Chairman of the TDC Group of Companies, Mr Michael Morton, eulogised the former businessman at the funeral service on behalf of the business community of St. Kitts and Nevis. The remains of this great businessman, the Late Mr Charles McDougal Brisbane OBE were interred after the church service.