FORMER PUBLIC SERVANT and government Minister Sir Harcourt Lewis is dead.
Sir Harcourt, aged 83, reportedly died at the Bay View Hospital yesterday, after a period of illness.
The former Minister responsible for the Civil Service in a Democratic Labour Party government, worked in the Barbados Public Service in several capacities and was awarded a Knighthood by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in the 2010 New Year Honours, for his outstanding contribution to the financial and public sectors.
His record of volunteerism and community service has also been commended by the Barbados Boy Scouts Association and the Methodist Church, of which he was a faithful member.
Extending condolences to the Lewis family today, Chief Scout Dr Nigel Taylor said the late president emeritus of the local Scout movement had made “an indelible contribution” to the work of the association, serving repeatedly as president.
“He had a long life in Scouting and we have lost one of our really committed and dedicated men,” Dr Taylor said.
Lewis was instrumental in setting up the Barbados National Bank which was subsequently acquired by Republic Bank of Trinidad and Tobago and was also a leading light in the credit union movement. For his contribution, the auditorium of the Barbados Public Workers’ Co-operative Credit Union headquarters at Belmont Road was named after him.
“I have lost a friend and mentor,” fellow trade unionist Keith Bourne told Nationnews.com today.
He said it was Lewis who held his hand and guided him through the early years of his credit union development. Bourne also pointed to Lewis’ foresight that led to the establishment of a thriving and successful Barbados Public Workers Co-operative Credit Union Credit Union Limited.
Sir Harcourt also played an integral role in the birth of the Insurance Corporation of Barbados and was its first chairman, serving in that capacity from 1978 to 1981. He chaired the National Petroleum Corporation and resigned as deputy chairman of the Financial Services Commission after serving for a short time.
“I have lost a wonderful and a good provider,” Lewis’ wife of 53 years, Claudette Lady Lewis said.
They were the parents of two sons. (GC)
