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Reliable, predictable, stable – ‘Winty’

A poem by Vince, in tribute to his friend Ralph Winthrop Maraj who died alone at hospital in October 2020.

Winty was a provider; son of a taxi driver.

Finish Tranquility…looking for higher education opportunity. ‘Watch out lil Indian, It doh have room here for you, things look full; But in either case, how yuh go make it here??! Yuh father does just pull bull.’

Denied… so he started off without a dime;

But land in the Red House, ‘cause his penmanship was sublime. From Bagatelle to the Red House…Fire Service on Wrightson Road, Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour… Man of Finance… all naysayers silenced.

Never taking a personal day, always punctual, never sick they say; Industrious to the end of the day. Until is time to break the seal…of the neck of the bottle ‘cause work done…so now… is trouble.

‘Work hard, play hard’, must have been his motto ‘cause he eh leavin’ till rum done and jacks hung. Card must have been his weakness too, playing till Sunday morning dew on Abbo and Mammie Gallery…with de Charles clan and Keith Oliverre.

So hard worker, Limer? Yuh have to add value; so, what else did Winty do? Right there in Mt Hope Junior Sec, started a club with his boyhood crew. Sharky, Kiddo, Gonzales, Hospedales just to name a few.

Provided an outlet to play ball, then to turn professional; still in existence TODAY….Yes…He was a founding father of San Juan Nutrament Jabloteh.

Transition time: 33 years in the Civil Service; retirement at the ripe old age of 50; Mission accomplished: teenagers/young adults, car, house, pension, friendships, familiarity.

Four kids and a wife in Trini…Let me give what I had to grab…opportunity. Apply for Visa… Lucky or unlucky to get it. Foreign here we come.

To Florida he brought his work ethic and started from scratch. It takes a brave man to leave Trini; his bravery I can never match.

Providing was his motivation…he survived and did well. Achieved there what he did here …pension, house, car From Bagatelle, he really came far.

But his heart was Trini to de bone; making annual visits home. To relax and rejuvenate his long-held friendships and relationships. While away, he enjoyed supporting all the teams, that was his ting. Heat, Marlins, Panthers, Dolphins, whether they go zero and 13 or win a ring.

So, he made another life with his sons and grands and wife. And It was grand enough. Then it happened…slowly and to our chagrin…. Seeing him through the eyes his parents did 70 …80 years ago.

It’s hard not to be recognised…by people who you know. It’s hard not to be recognised …by people who you love. He was always there; reliable, predictable, stable! I always loved Winty…and thought if I was half as brave, half as popular, half as hard working, half as successful, half as likeable then I’d be ok.

I’m Ok NOW but I’m not even close to being half as brave, half as popular, half as hardworking, half as successful, half as likeable as the ole man.

Over the past years I have missed him. We have missed HIM….

Now …we will miss him more.