Mourners showed up in large numbers to bid farewell to former Port of Spain mayor Ethelbert "Telly" Fitzroy Paul, who died at 96 on September 24. The packed service was attended by the Prime Minister, Minister in the Ministry of National Security Keith Scotland, and Port of Spain mayor Chinua Alleyne.
The service was held at the Church of the Assumption on Long Circular Road, Maraval, on October 2.
Paul’s daughter, Justice Sandra Paul, delivered her father’s eulogy, speaking fondly of him as a warm-hearted, generous, loving, compassionate, hard-working man of integrity.
“He was the ultimate patriarch and father to his children,” Justice Paul began, reflecting on her father’s impact on her life. She spoke of his professional career, highlighting how he received “the greatest honour of his life when he was elected the 37th mayor of PoS."
His term in office lasted from 1992-96 and she described it as “the most gratifying of his career,” saying it provided him with the opportunity to serve the public and give back.
In recognition of his contributions, the City of Port of Spain honoured Paul in 2022 by naming its council chamber the Ethelbert "Telly" Paul Chamber.
She described her father as fun-loving, with a self-deprecating sense of humour. Justice Paul said he often joked he preferred the company of younger people, as older folks only talked about death and dying.
"Daddy had a youthful spirit and cherished his time with his Saturday boys, who energised him. He also greatly enjoyed regular Friday luncheons with longtime friends."
She called said family breakfasts were a daily ritual and fondly recalled his special "power drink" of raw eggs, orange juice, and a touch of brandy, saying it was a ritual that lasted into their secondary school years.
“I am here today to tell the tale, so obviously, it must have had the benefits he extolled.”
[caption id="attachment_1112416" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Port of Spain mayor Chinua Alleyne at the funeral of former mayor Ethelbert "Telly" Paul at the Church of the Assumption, Maraval on October 2. - Photo by Gabriel Williams[/caption]
She called his culinary skills noteworthy, saying every Sunday he prepared a breakfast of boiled cassava, black pudding and eggs, priding himself on being "the best roast-bake maker ever."
She said the meals served as opportunities for him to share his wisdom on hard work, self-sufficiency and the importance of choosing friends wisely.
“He would hold up one hand and count off the letters J E S U S as the best friend worth having.”
She said as she and her siblings grew older, their Sunday lectures evolved into talks and eventually into two-way dialogues.
"When grandchildren arrived, they too were included in family stories and life lessons."
Paul said her father never shied away from addressing the realities of life, particularly the challenges young women might face in the workplace, and often peppered these discussions with real-life experiences, including one from his time as managing director of Algico, an
