Professor Gordon Rohlehr (Emeritus), who was awarded the Chaconia Medal Silver in the spheres of literature, culture, history and education at the National Awards 2022, has died at the age of 80.
Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes has led tributes to Professor Rohlehr, extending condolences on the passing of "yet another member of the Distinguished Society of Trinidad and Tobago".
A Facebook post from the Office of the President read:
“Professor Emeritus Rohlehr designed, piloted and taught the first course in West Indian Literature. He later became active in the expansion and development of the course offerings in English and was central to the introduction and teaching of American Literature and Post-Colonial Literature.”
The statement continued:
“His conviction was that literature had a fundamental role to play in developing adequate self-awareness without prejudice to the requirements of the wider world. His publications demonstrate insight, critical awareness and consciousness of the integration of the many social, historical, linguistic and political currents undergirding Caribbean reality.”
“His most significant contribution to raise national consciousness has been his phenomenal work on calypso. He has traced calypso's historical development and social relevance and has explored issues such as masculinity and gender, long before these terms gained currency,” the statement from Her Excellency said.
Professor Gordon Rohlehr (Emeritus) was Guyanese born and graduated in 1964 from the University College of the West Indies, Jamaica, with a First Class Honours in English Literature.