The political landscape of Trinidad and Tobago has been diminished by the passing of Ferdinand “Ferdie” Ferreira, a foundational figure within the People’s National Movement (PNM) and former key advisor to the nation’s inaugural Prime Minister Dr. Eric Williams. Ferreira passed away on Thursday at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy of profound political service.
Opposition Leader and PNM political head Pennelope Beckles-Robinson confirmed the news in a heartfelt tribute shared on her official Facebook page. Her statement, issued on December 11th, framed Ferreira’s death not just as a party loss, but as a national moment of reflection. “As we mourn the passing of Ferdinand ‘Ferdie’ Ferreira,” she wrote, “we take solace in knowing that a life lived in service, integrity and devotion is honoured by God Himself.” She described him as now being “at rest, free from the cares of this world and embraced by the everlasting peace of our Heavenly Father.”
Beckles-Robinson, who serves as the Member of Parliament for Arima, elaborated on Ferreira’s immense historical significance. Born in 1932 on Dundonald Street in Port of Spain, Ferreira was revered as one of the nation’s preeminent political archivists. His expertise was unparalleled; he was one of the few individuals who could speak with definitive authority on the entire arc of Trinidad and Tobago’s political evolution. His deep knowledge encompassed the PNM’s founding principles, its philosophical underpinnings, and its intricate history, as well as the broader political narrative of the nation, spanning both the pre-colonial and post-colonial eras. His death, she noted, represents a “profound loss” for the country’s institutional memory and political heritage.