Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr the Hon Timothy Harris on Monday evening extended heartfelt condolences to the Brisbane family of Basseterre, on the passing of the family’s patriarch, Mr Charles Brisbane OBE. Prime Minister Harris reflected on the life of Mr Brisbane, and on the contribution which he would have made towards the socio-economic development of St. Kitts and Nevis – to which he would have emigrated well over 60 years ago from his native country of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“I would have known Mr Charles Brisbane for practically all of my adult life,” the Prime Minister stated. “For decades he was the face behind the company O D Brisbane and Sons Ltd., a family-owned, wholesale business which he operated originally from Princes Street, Basseterre, and then from the C A Paul Southwell Industrial Estate up until the business was sold to Goddard Enterprises of Barbados.”
Prime Minister Harris noted that Mr Brisbane would be remembered well for his leadership in the private sector, having served as President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce in the 1970s and then again in the early 1990s. It was also noted by Dr Harris that Mr Brisbane would have also served two stints as a Director of The Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), from 1976-1977 and from 1990-1991. He was duly recognised for his service to CAIC – and the regional private sector – in February 2009 when he would have been presented with an Appreciation Award from the organisation, together with two of his other private sector contemporaries, namely the late Mr William Kelsick OBE, CSM; and Mr Michael King OBE, former chairmen of S L Horsford & Company Ltd and TDC Ltd, respectively.
“During his lengthy tenure at the helm of O D Brisbane & Sons Ltd, Mr Brisbane would have also led a life of community service,” the Prime Minister added.
Prime Minister Harris also pointed to Mr Brisbane’s consistent and active involvement in the St. Kitts Rotary Club, and his charitable contributions to various public institutions and causes, in particular, The Cardin Home for the aged, infirmed and indigent members of our community.
Mr Brisbane was also fondly remembered by Prime Minister Harris for his contribution to cultural development and preservation in St. Kitts and Nevis. Prime Minister Harris noted Mr Brisbane’s unswerving commitment to our folklore troupes, the testimony of which was his regular participation in our National Carnival, including Major Alphonso’s “Indians”, and Stacey Hobson’s mas troupes such as “Sugar Cane Fantasy” and “Lambada”, for which he was also a generous sponsor.
It was also pointed out by Prime Minister Harris that the late Charles Brisbane OBE was an avid golfer who, by extension, had also served as Chairman of the Frigate Bay Development Corporation.
In concluding his reflection on Mr Charles Brisbane, Prime Minister Harris expressed his Cabinet’s sincere sympathy to the Brisbane family in their time of bereavement. Such sentiments would have been first extended to Mr Nicholas Brisbane, son of the deceased, upon learning of his father’s death.
