President of the Senate Kerryann Ifill led the Upper House in saluting her predecessor Sir Branford Taitt as an outstanding Barbadian, who has left an indelible mark on the local landscape.
On Wednesday night, members of the Senate on all sides – Government, the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and the Independents – saluted Sir Branford, who recently retired after serving as president of the Senate since 2008.
Ifill quoted wartime leader and former British Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner Sir Winston Churchill, in making an assessment of Sir Branford, a former Cabinet minister and long-standing Member of Parliament for St Michael West.
“‘History will be kind to me for I intend to write it’, Churchill once said, and that can be said of Sir Branford, for he has written the history of this country in every endeavour he has undertaken.
“I will miss his witty comments and warm counsel. In the tradition of all Combermerians, I say to you [Sir Branford], ‘Up and on’,”?Ifill said.
Opposition Senator Kerrie Symmonds was lavish in his praise of Sir Branford, who he said taught and guided him in many aspects of political organization and public speaking.
Symmonds, who served as deputy general secretary of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) when Sir Branford was general secretary, hailed the former Minister of Trade and Minister of Health as a skilled platform debater, who was deeply respected on both sides of the political divide.
Senator Jepter Ince said that, just like Symmonds, he learned a lot from Sir Branford, especially at the weekend DLP?party sessions, while Independent Senator Orlando Marville viewed the former Cabinet minister as “larger than life”.
Sir Roy Trotman said Sir Branford was a fantastic organizer, who played a key role in rebuilding the party after the heavy loss at the 1976 general election.
The trade union head said Taitt was knowledgeable, empathetic and supportive.
Irene Sandiford-Garner rated Sir Branford among the pantheon of outstanding Barbadian politicians and one of the most charismatic of the group.
She said he was the consummate politician, who “enjoyed the cut and thrust of political debate”.
Peter Gilkes described Taitt as a “special Barbadian” while Santia Bradshaw felt he was one of the individuals who helped to transform Barbados.
Reggie Hunte said Sir Branford was a controversial minister but in a good way, adding that his record stood out and could not be questioned. New Senator Verla DePeiza said Sir Branford had no equal for oratorical skills and played a significant part in her development as a student of politics.
