President Paula-Mae Weekes was among the many citizens paying tribute on Thursday to the life and work of gender and consumer activist Hazel Brown.
Brown, 80, died peacefully yesterday morning, according to a message posted on her Facebook page.
She was widely known as the former coordinator of the Network of NGOs for the Advancement of Women, which was formed in 1984.
As tributes poured in, many remembered Brown’s tireless work for women and consumer rights using words like “mentor,” “relentless advocate” and lauding the “sacrifice” she made.
The Office of the President extended, “deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ms Hazel Brown.”
Her Excellency added, “In 2011, Ms Brown became a Member of the Distinguished Society of Trinidad and Tobago when she was awarded the Medal for the Development of Women, Gold in the sphere of Community Service. May she rest in eternal peace.”
The Institute for Gender and Development Studies at UWI St Augustine, in extending condolences, described Brown as “a mentor, a relentless advocate, a colleague to many and a friend.”
The St Joseph’s Convent Port-of-Spain Past Pupil’s Association also expressed condolences and noted that two of Brown’s children attended the school that she did, as it paid tribute to its “2019 Hall of Excellence inductee and sister alum Hazel Brown.”
Founder and current Executive Director of the Women’s Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD) and coordinator of the Caribbean Coalition for Development and the Reduction of Armed Violence (CDRAV), Folade Mutota, also mourned the passing of Brown.
WINAD sent condolences to the Network of NGOs, saying, “We salute Hazel for her sacrifice and leadership of women and women’s organisations for many decades.”
The UWI St Augustine campus also recalled Brown’s contribution to the country. Brown was one of its Honorary Graduates, having been conferred with a Doctor of Law in 2017.
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, said she was saddened by Brown’s passing.
“Hazel Brown pioneered the movement to encourage and develop women politicians from every, and any, party so that women’s voices could be heard and their issues made visible. She was a fearless champion of women’s rights and social justice, and a good colleague.”
Lecturer and head of the Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) at UWI, Dr Sue Ann Barratt, described Brown as “an inspiring woman, feminist fighter and advocate for gender equity and Justice. She was relentless and brave and mentored other women, especially women leaders to stay their course. A true champion indeed. Her down-to-earth assertiveness will be missed.”
Tributes also came from politicians past and present as well as activists and citizens.
Brown’s contributions
Hazel Brown has, over the decades, worked with numerous women’s organisations.
According to Fearless Politics - The life and times of Hazel Brown, she was the past secretary general of the Commonwealth Women’s Network and has been engaged in Commonwealth activities since the first Commonwealth People’s Forum at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Harare in 1991. Brown also worked with various organisations to raise awareness and effect change about consumer rights, namely being the founder of the Telephone Users Group which was formed to generate public interest, collate information and represent consumers at the telephone rate hearings in 1971.
The publication said in 1992, Brown was involved in the experimentation and promotion of Solar Box Cooking in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana as a practical convenient way for people of all ages to use a safe, non-polluting renewable energy source which is widely available.
Brown was also a cancer survivor who advocated and supported many cancer patients.
Brown is survived by her four children, including Justice Carla Brown Antoine, her two sisters and seven grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.