A beloved Trinidadian scout leader has died suddenly while leading a youth expedition along the country’s northern coast, leaving the local scouting community mourning a dedicated mentor who touched hundreds of young lives. Renold Ramdial, 52, a resident of Princes Town and father of two children, passed away just days after celebrating his 52nd birthday, while on a multi-day expedition with his unit, the Fifth Naparima Scout Group, in Blanchisseuse.
The group had departed for the coastal area on Thursday, with plans to return to their home base on Monday. After Ramdial suffered an unexpected medical emergency during the trip, fellow group members immediately administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation in an attempt to save his life. Members of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard also responded to the emergency to provide support, and Ramdial was rushed to the local Blanchisseuse Health Centre for urgent treatment. Despite all coordinated rescue and medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at the facility.
Grief-stricken by the sudden loss of their leader, the expedition group cut their trip short and returned to San Fernando on Saturday, rather than completing their planned schedule. That same day, the South Central Scout District, the regional governing body for Ramdial’s unit, issued an official public statement via Facebook honoring his decades of service to the scouting movement.
“Leader Renold dedicated his time, energy and heart to developing young people through the Scout Movement,” the post read. The statement emphasized that Ramdial’s consistent commitment to scouting values and his lifelong willingness to put service above self left an indelible mark on every scout, fellow leader, and family that he interacted with over his years in the movement.
On behalf of the district commissioner, executive committee, all scout leaders, and registered members of the South Central Scout District, the organization extended its deepest condolences to Ramdial’s immediate family, his friends, the entire Fifth Naparima Scout Group, and the wider national scouting fraternity. The post closed with a reflection on core scouting principles that guided Ramdial’s life: “As scouts, we remember that, a scout leaves this world better than they found it and Leader Renold’s legacy of service, leadership and dedication will continue to inspire all of us.”