For many parents, living long enough to see their children fulfil their dreams, is a dream itself. But the daughter of 110-year-old Irving Joseph, of Arima, said this is her father’s reality,
“One of his dreams for me personally was to become a teacher, you know he always wanted me to become a teacher and I was like ‘no’ and eventually I ended up turning out to be a teacher and I know he is very happy about that,” his youngest daughter Josanne Joseph said.
The supercentenarian who celebrated his birthday at his St Joseph Street home on Tuesday, surrounded by his loved ones, was paid a special visit by Member of Parliament (MP) for the area and Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles. She said she has made room in the calendar for Joseph's birthday every year since he turned 100 years old.
Equipped with a birthday cake and his favourite celebratory drink of Johnny Walker Black and Coconut Water, Beckles knew exactly what the former public servant would enjoy.
“I’ve been visiting him for a long time, more specifically I’ve been here when he was 100 and there thereafter every year,” Beckles said.
She shared that the oldest man living in Trinidad and Tobago was honoured by the Ministry of Works where he was employed. She recalled the stories of him and his friends walking to Paria where he worked.
In a brief conversation with Joseph, Beckles asked him how he was feeling and he replied that he was feeling alright. She then commented on his outfit, a white shirt and blue jeans. The MP then asked if he was in any pain but Joseph replied, that he was feeling good.
His daughter Josanne remembered his easygoing nature when she was growing up. She recalled how his rod of correction was actually a hat and he always allowed her to go to numerous events even when her mother said no.
“Dad would say nah, let her go and he will find that money,” she shared.
She said Joseph was very gentle, especially with the girls and would take them outside of Arima often to explore the country.
“He used to like to take us out, probably show off his girls, so he would go and take us by the market there or go down South,” she said.
And now that her dad has been around to see his children grow, his daughter said there was one more goal to fulfil.
“One of his dreams also is for all his children to own their own homes... we hoping that will come true,” she shared.