Former chief education officer Laurie King passes

Former Chief Education Officer Laurie King died at the age of 65 in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital this morning after a brief illness.

He served in the Ministry of Education for a number of years and was appointed education chief in 2012 under the Freundel Stuart administration. He acted in the position for two years prior to his appointment following the retirement of Dr Wendy Griffith Watson.

“My dad was a man of valour, a man of strength. He was a man that would leave a spirit of joy and contentment wherever he went and he never left his roots despite reaching the heights he did,” said his son Hayden Brathwaite.

“He would still go back on the block with the fellas in the village and cook with them under the tree. He never distanced himself from them and I think that’s one of the things about him I will remember most.”

Widow Ventrice King described him as “a brilliant person who loved people,  went all out to help them and was loved by many”. (JC)