Former president Noor Hassanali, who made history by having been appointed to the nation's highest office by two different ruling political parties for two consecutive terms, died yesterday at his home at the age of 88.
By Juhel BrowneAs the nation mourned the death of its second President, Hassanali was being hailed as a great leader who served his country with distinction, dignity and excellence by those within and outside of the Government.
Hassanali leaves to mourn his wife of 54 years, former first lady Zalayhar Hassanali, his son Khalid Hassanali and his daughter Amena Hassanali-Sutton.
It was Hassanali's family, in a statement issued to the media, who announced that he had died peacefully in his sleep at his Westmoorings home early yesterday morning.
Hassanali had reportedly been ailing for some time prior to his death.
"He requested a private interment and a subsequent interfaith public service of thanksgiving for his life," Hassanali's family said.
Hassanali, who was the first Indo-Trinidadian to become President, was also a devout Muslim, and was buried a few hours after his death during a private ceremony at the Western Cemetery in St James, in keeping with his faith.
Hassanali served as President from 1987 to 1997, after a distinguished career as an attorney and jurist.
In a statement yesterday, President George Maxwell Richards, whose wife, Jean, is one of Hassanali's many cousins, praised Hassanali as a man of quiet dignity and wisdom, whose tenure as President bore the stamp of excellence.
"His acknowledgement of the Almighty was evident in the conduct of his mission as Head of State and he did not compromise his religious persuasion while being the guardian, as it were, of the interests of all the people of Trinidad and Tobago," Richards said.
During yesterday's sitting of the House of Representatives at the Red House in Port of Spain, Prime Minister Patrick Manning recalled that the People's National Movement 1991-1995 administration was so satisfied with Hassanali's performance during his first tenure as President under the National Alliance for Construction administration, that it was pleased to propose and ensure his re-election by the Parliament for a second term.
Manning also took note of the fact that Hassanali began his first presidential term in 1987, just as the PNM administration that had been in office for the previous 30 years was voted out in favour of the NAR.
"The late Noor Hassanali became President at a time of significant change in Trinidad and Tobago. For the first time after self-government of 30 years, the administration of Trinidad and Tobago had changed political hands," Manning said.
"The country also changed the Presidency at the same time. For those who were perceptive and sensitive enough to discern, it marked a turning point in our country's political history; and was accompanied by the expected uncertainties generated by an important new direction.
"It is therefore a tribute to Noor Hassanali, that he quickly emerged as a reassuring and harmonising presence in the midst of seminal political change in Trinidad and Tobago."
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar highlighted the former president's role in the nation's recovery from the attempted coup in 1990.
"At a time when our nation faced crisis, at its darkest hour following the assault on the Parliament in 1990, Mr Hassanali was exemplary in his resolve to return the country to a state of democracy and rule of law," Persad-Bissessar said.
"On a personal note, I had the privilege, pleasure and opportunity to be a student of Mr Justice Noor Hassanali at the Hugh Wooding Law School.
It was in my final year at the law school that I came into contact with him and his guidance and as teacher and mentor there has served me tremendously, I think him for the contact I had with him."
National Security Minister Martin Joseph ordered all flags throughout the country to be flown at half mast yesterday as a sign of respect for his memory.
