The last time I saw Ken Valley was several months ago at Desmond Allum's funeral. He was his usual jovial self but on that occasion he had an extra twinkle in his eye when we spoke. I understood why when we started to discuss politics. "I have to be careful. We on different sides now yuh know," he said laughing. Patrick Manning had been removed as PNM leader and he had already thrown himself wholeheartedly into the effort to support Keith Rowley and rebuild the PNM. After all "the country needs a strong Opposition," he argued that day.At his funeral last Thursday, I realised how wrong he was.The PNM's Women's League (and it was no FAB) lined the aisle in pure white, PNM flags aloft. Maybe they could have interspersed with national flags but such was the genuine warmth that the party faithful feels toward Mr Valley and his work for party, constituency and country.
While I would be the first to admit that he was no saint (who amongst us is?) and that, in my view, some of his policy positions were not good for the country, one does not have to be perfect for one's overall contribution to be positive. What his life and death have demonstrated, in part, is that despite differing philosophies and allegiances, being Trinbagonian provides the basis for far more unity than any sub-criteria can provide for division.In death, Ken Valley brought politicians of different sides together. Business moguls and common folk sat side by side to offer their respects.In life he supported the PNM and played a role in developing many of their policy initiatives. He, I am convinced, genuinely believed that the total impact of these would be positive. He made many mistakes along the way. We all do.
I didn't know him intimately, but we shared a very cordial and warm relationship whenever we did see each other. Over the years we interacted in different ways as my career twisted and turned. From what I saw and heard, it appeared as though there were some things on which Ken Valley was firm and unrelenting.He did not believe in the politics of race. He was firm on that. Maybe it was because he grew up in the mixed heart of the Couva town centre. He believed in treating people well and had very little airs about him. Maybe it was because he had worked himself up from relative poverty.
He believed in fairness. Talk is that his political death warrant was signed when he openly questioned in Cabinet, the willingness of the then prime minister to have Calder Hart overturn Cabinet decisions. Personally, I know of at least one occasion where he stood up, albeit unsuccessfully, against the political persecution of a committed patriot.As the country knows, he also believed that there were some lines which could not be crossed, regardless of the personal consequences. As his brother Dr Clinton Valley put it, "he preferred to bow out of politics with his values intact rather than bow down at the altar of political expediency."
So why was he wrong that day?
In delivering a wonderfully stirring eulogy, Mr Valley's eldest son, Kerwyn, spoke of the two main things which people have been asking him since his father's death. The first is, said Kerwyn, "What are you feeling?" The second, "What can we do to help?"He explained that growing up in Canada, away from his father, he would frequently be introduced to other Trinis as "Ken Valley's son." Overall, the reception which he got would be warmer as a result of the contextualisation.Having settled in T&T some years ago and deciding to work with his father, he really got to know what that meant. Reinforced by the diversity of the crowd-across party, social and ethnic lines-at the funeral, Kerwyn answered the first question, "What am I feeling? I am feeling proud to be Ken Valley's son."
The second explanation fed the answer to the first question. He said his father never looked at today but always looked at tomorrow, and saw the country as Eden, a paradise.In this Eden, explained Kerwyn, there would be no bars on windows, doors or hearts and everyone would be equal. He expressed hope that his father's example would inspire the nation "to be better and do better."Despite our philosophical differences and opposing politics, I would like to believe that both Ken Valley and I shared a commitment to the development of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean. If so, Mr Valley, you're wrong. We are on the same side, it's just our approach that is different. Walk with God.