by RAWLE BRANCKER

Former chairman of ICC World Cup

IT IS UNFORTUNATE that Barbados and the region were not given more time to benefit from the outstanding leadership and sheer brilliance of Stephen Alleyne.

He had a well ordered mind, well trained, analytical and delivered with the calm assurance of a confident expert.

He was obviously very well prepared by his caring parents Charles and Hazel who predeceased him.

The Alleyne family and I have been extremely close and I therefore knew Stephen for all his life.

He was sincere in all that he did – caring, polite and decent, obviously inheriting the better traits in life from his mother and father.

His remaining family must be understandably shaken even to the point of disbelief and I offer them my heartfelt condolences and God's promise that nothing happens beyond our ability to handle it.

God always provides the grace to deal with even a tragic happening as this and I pray that the family will not allow the grief and shock to consume them so much that they will not receive the grace which God always provides.

This country may never replace Stephen's outstanding ability and although his life was short, he had already made contributions
to our country that surpassed many others who lived full lives.

May his family be comforted with the peace of God and I hope he has eternal rest.