RETIRED ECONOMIST and Democratic Labour Party stalwart Tennyson Beckles has died.
The 76-year-old former human resource manager with Banks Breweries, newspaper columnist and regular contributor to the Democratic Labour Party Lunchtime Lecture series died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital yesterday.
Beckles’ career included a decade long teaching stint as a tutor with the Barbados Workers’ Union Labour College; the writing of several published works and training as an economist. He served in the Senate Chamber and in the 1990s ran as a political candidate in St James North.
During his retirement Beckles remained active as he was at one point chairman of the Standing Tripartite Committee and deputy chairman of the Barbados National Oil Company. He continued his community service as a Rotarian and assisted the Red Cross with its meals programme.
The outspoken Beckles was tireless in his call for economists to engage in public debate on the economy and pressed for a new business model for the country.
General Secretary of the DLP George Pilgrim described Beckles as a wise head who was always deeply involved in the party and gave advice and solutions.
“He was not just a member of the DLP, he was a Dem who was not afraid to be identified with the party. Beckles served on the general council and the executive. He believed that the role of the party was to uplift people and he demonstrated what was commitment to a cause,” Pilgrim said.
He expressed condolences to the family and friends of Beckles, whom he said would be missed by the DLP. (AC)
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