Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar delivered a heartfelt tribute to former UNC senator Dr. Daphne Phillips-Gaskin during her funeral service on December 17 at the Trinidadian Christian Centre in Petit Valley, commemorating the life and contributions of the 82-year-old public servant who passed away on December 3.
In her eulogy, Persad-Bissessar characterized Phillips-Gaskin as both a distinguished scholar and devoted public servant who operated consistently according to conscience and principle. The Prime Minister reflected on their shared journey in national leadership, noting how Phillips-Gaskin remained steadfastly at her side ‘like a sister’ throughout their political careers.
Phillips-Gaskin’s remarkable trajectory began in Belmont, where she developed early foundations in compassion through her training as a nurse and midwife. Her academic pursuits at the University of the West Indies, culminating in a doctoral scholarship in sociology, profoundly shaped her commitment to gender equality and community empowerment.
As a senior lecturer, Phillips-Gaskin maintained that education carried inherent obligations—believing knowledge should fundamentally uplift and strengthen communities. This philosophy guided her transition into government service, where she served as senator and Cabinet Minister during the 1995-2001 UNC administrations.
Persad-Bissessar highlighted Phillips-Gaskin’s pioneering work in shaping a more humane national agenda, particularly noting her bravery in challenging political norms. ‘Some of the men did not have the belly to do what she did back in the days,’ the Prime Minister remarked, acknowledging the additional barriers faced by women in leadership during that era.
Phillips-Gaskin’s legacy includes substantial advancements in gender policy, strengthened protections against domestic violence, and championing family law reform. Her leadership enabled thousands of women to gain skills, training, and employment opportunities through programs grounded in her belief in their capacity for self-sufficiency.
In November 2000, Phillips-Gaskin assumed the responsibility of acting Prime Minister, discharging her duties with what Persad-Bissessar described as ‘calm authority and restraint.’ Her loyalty to the UNC remained principled and enduring, demonstrated notably during a critical moment in 2010 when she stood publicly with the Prime Minister at personal cost.
The Prime Minister concluded that Phillips-Gaskin’s legacy endures through the laws she shaped, the women she empowered, the families she protected, and the exemplary standards she established for public service.