A LECTURER, MENTOR, an extraordinary economist and a best friend.
The late Roland Craigwell was all this and more and last Friday, the economists’ fraternity celebrated the life of one of their own even as they said goodbye when his body was laid to rest in the cemetery of St George’s Parish Church.
Friend and fellow economist Anthony Wood said Craigwell had many achievements in his professional and academic life and had made enormous contributions to the Central Bank and University of the West Indies.
“Roland demonstrated a very sound knowledge of all aspects of [economics] . . . . It certainly came as no surprise to us in the Economics Department when he blossomed into a very good economics scholar and political researcher, writer and publisher in major economic journals. Roland was a very thorough reviewer of papers and was sought after by many journal editors,” he said, adding that Craigwell was also well prepared for teaching.
However, Wood, a former Member of Parliament and Government minister, said there was more to his friend than economics. He said Craigwell was also a loving husband to his widow Peggy and father to daughters Jhané and Moné.
“His achievements could not be so enormous without a supportive and loving wife.”
He added Craigwell loved to frequent what he liked to call “the block” – which was actually a shop called Gordon’s Place in his hometown of Thorpe’s Cottage, St George – where he was born – before moving to Fort George Heights, St Michael, with his wife and children.
Wood said he would miss his friend dearly but was comforted in the fact Craigwell managed to accomplish so much with his life.
Craigwell succumbed to prolonged illness on January 2 due to complications from renal failure. He was 49 years old. (CA)