Veteran educator and trade unionist Patrick Frost has passed away.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has paid tribute, describing him as a patriot whose service to Barbados in education, trade unionism, and governance left an indelible mark on the nation.
Below is the full statement by Prime Minister Mottley:
Today, as I reflect on the life of Patrick Frost, I cannot help but state the obvious: He was human, and like all other mortals who have walked this earth, he must have had faults. The most interesting thing for me, however, is that I cannot identify any.
Having learnt yesterday of the death of this Most Honourable gentleman, I was immediately consumed with thoughts and memories of a man who has contributed so much to this country in the areas of education, trade unionism, and governance that we will never be able to settle the debt owed.
When it came to defending his trade union principles or his love for Barbados, he was robust, forceful, and unapologetic, yet never personal, petty, or disrespectful.
Foremost in the minds of many Barbadians would be his association with The Lodge School — the place of learning he attended, I am told, from the age of eight years, and the institution at which he taught for his entire working life. His is an achievement that few can match, but undoubtedly, his legacy is one that every educator today should try to emulate.
However, anyone who was or is involved in the country’s governance since the early 1990s, whether as the elected or the elector, would recall Patrick as the quintessential Bajan — a patriot for whom the preservation of partisan political motives could never supersede the welfare of citizens.
His role in the formation of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations when Barbados was facing one of its darkest times, having already served faithfully and maturely for a quarter of a century as the head of the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union, means that long after his mortal remains have been returned to Mother Nature, we will continue to benefit from the gift of his service.
In fact, Patrick’s seminal work with CTUSAB, as a key cog in the wheel we know as the Social Partnership, can never be minimised, for much of the stability and resilience we boast about today was built on the shoulders — and intellect — of a dedicated group of Bajans who never considered failure as an option. Patrick stood tall within that group.
On behalf of the Government and people of Barbados, I say again, “Thank you, Patrick!”, fully recognising that not even the conferring on him of the country’s highest honour, the Order of Freedom of Barbados in 2020, will ever compensate for his lifetime of selfless service.
I extend condolences to his wife, Margot, my teacher at Queen’s College, his sons Bernard and Martin, grandchildren and family, as well as the wider Lodge School community.
May his soul rest in peace and rise in glory.
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