Well-known gender and consumer activist Hazel Brown was laid to rest on Tuesday, following a church service at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Port-of-Spain.
Brown, who passed away peacefully last week Thursday at her home, was remembered as a woman who stood up for the rights of other women and one who bore the voice of the voiceless.
Delivering tributes, Brown’s close colleagues remembered her as an amazing team player.
“I have known her as an amazing team player with the women of Africa, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America as part of her team. Brown held no sacred cows, least of all political ones. She was engaged in public debate. She once calmly told the minister to whom she was engaged in public debate that ministers come and go and that minister soon went out,” one colleague said.
Another remembered her for her selfless act and representation.
“There are so many issues that this one woman tackled not for self but for community and country. Sisters and brothers, Hazel has gone to rest satisfied that she has done her best. I would say she has done more than her quota and for that the Network thanks her.”
Brown’s only son of four children, Garvin, who gave a very moving tribute, described his mother as a fearless, passionate individual.
“My mom was fearless, passionate and was a fighter. She fought for those who didn’t have a voice. She, I think, in my opinion, had the most influence on the man and the person I am today,” he said.
“She was a controversial figure but I believe she was controversial because she stood and she fought for others and she was unapologetic. She fought for those and she held a voice and she was willing to use it and so, in my opinion, that was the reason why she was not liked as much as she was loved,” he added.
Brown was also the former Commonwealth Women’s Network secretary general, linking women in 52 countries.
