Sir Ellis Clarke was a pillar of the Roman Catholic community. According to the Archdiocese of Port-of-Spain, this country's first President contributed greatly to matters involving social justice and served the church in many other ways. A statement from the Catholic Media Services Ltd stated:"The archdiocese of Port-of-Spain joins in the rest of the nation in mourning the loss of a true patriot.
"Apart from his magnanimous political and social contributions over the decades, Sir Ellis Clarke established himself as a pillar of the local Roman Catholic community." The statement added that Sir Ellis distinguished himself by his contributions in public life through his strong ethical values. The statement added: "He leaves an important legacy for future generations."