BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – NO more will the nation hear his voice, unless it is a recording; no more will callers to WINN FM’s Voices programme be advised and given explanations to topical issues of a political nature by this man. His departure from the land of the living has created a void not only in his country of birth but also the Caribbean region. However, his footprints will be indelibly written in the sands of time.
The man is Dr. Asyll Warner; a Political Scientist, educator, diplomat, social commentator and talk show host, who died on Monday (May 16) shortly before mid-night in Trinidad.
This publication learnt that Dr. Warner was warded at the JNF Hospital where he was treated for an undisclosed ailment. However, in the company of his wife, he had departed St. Kitts at approximately 2:00 p.m. on Sunday (May 15) for advanced medical treatment at the West Shore Medical Centre in Trinidad where he died.
Speaking with his brother Valdemar, SKNVibes learnt that Dr. Warner was born in February 1945 to Robert Warner of Sandy Point and Olga Liburd-Warner of Nevis, both of whom have since passed away.
Valdemar described him as a “truly devoted brother and family-oriented individual who enjoyed being with his many nephews and nieces”.
“We are all saddened by his death. We know that no human is immortal and that we are on loan to each other for a specified period of time. However, when that time arrives, even though we know that death is inevitable, we still cannot accept the departure of our loved ones.
“Asyll has always been a seeker of knowledge, a go-getter and an example setter. Whenever he meets with his nephews and nieces he would speak about our formative years and advise them that education is the key to success in everything they set out to achieve. He was kind, loving and a very genuine person who would always put a smile on the saddest face with a kind gesture or the many jokes he loved to tell. In spite of his academic achievements, Asyll never classified himself above anyone; he would normally say, ‘All men are equal in the sight of God, and who am I to say that I am better,’” Valdemar said.
Many people thought very highly of Dr. Warner and have since been flooding the airwaves and this website with condolences to his widow and other family members.
One of those individuals who expressed condolences is the prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. the Hon. Denzil Douglas, who on this week’s ‘Ask The PM’ programme on ZIZ Radio said, “I wish to begin by extending sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Dr. Asyll Warner who, we have just learned, has passed away. In the midst of life we truly are in death, since it was just last week, during my visit to him at the J. N. France General Hospital, that he and I were talking as easily as I am to you today.”
In a press release, Leader of the People’s Action Movement (PAM), Lindsay Grant said, “I must, on behalf of my family and I and the great party which I am proud to lead, express profound sadness and heartfelt condolences to Dr. Asyll Warner’s wife and son and entire family.
“His enthusiasm for life and for the political diversity and richness of St. Kitts-Nevis were infectious. Dr. Warner’s spirit and enthusiasm will live on in our hearts and moreover his legacy in many fields of endeavour from his professional success in diplomatic and educational circles to his contribution to the overall social development of our country, in particular his hometown of Sandy Point will endure.”
Also in the said release, Parliamentary Representative of Constituency Number Five and deputy Political Leader of the PAM, Hon. Shawn Richards said, “As Constituency Representative, on behalf of all Sandy Pointers, I wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Asyll Warner, one of Sandy Point’s proudest sons.
“The departure of this industrious and indefatigable former civil servant, diplomat, social commentator and educator will no doubt leave a huge void not only in the hearts of his family, friends and fellow Sandy Pointers, but also the nation. I certainly will miss Dr. Warner’s wit, humour and sound advice. He will be surely missed. May his soul rest in peace.”
According to a release from the Communications Unit of the Prime Minister, this illustrious son of the soil had been a teacher in St. Kitts and from 1964 to 1967 and had obtained a B.A. in Social Science with areas of specialisation in Political Science, Economics and History from the College of the Virgin Islands (CVI) from 1967 – 1971. His Thesis was ‘A Comparative Analysis of Caribbean Government’.
This academic success was followed by a Ph.D. in Political Science with an emphasis on International Relations with specialisation in International Public Administration, International Law and Economics, and Diplomacy from St. Louis University from 1974 to 1978. His Thesis was ‘The Process of Nationalisation in Latin America’.
Dr. Warner had been a lecturer since 2000 at the University Centre, St. Kitts and Nevis of University of the West Indies, where he lectured in Public Sector Management (Levels II & III), Compensation Management (Level III), Human Resource Management (Level III), Office Procedures (Level III), Introduction to Political Institutions (Level I), Caribbean Civilisation (Level I), Law, Governance and Society in the Caribbean (Level I), Caribbean Studies (Associate Degree) and Introduction to Research Methods (Certificate).
He also lectured at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC) from 1997 to 2006 in Introduction to Political Science (Level I), Law, Governance and Society (Level I), Principles of Management (Level I) and Caribbean Studies (CAPE).
And from 2004 to 2006, he was faculty representative on the team mandated to restructure the CFBC autonomous tertiary education institution.
From 1978 to 1983, he was the Research Coordinator at the Department of Education in the US Virgin Islands with responsibilities to coordinate job market surveys, conduct surveys of community attitudes towards higher education, assist with the development of academic programmes, and review the status of higher education.
He also lectured in Political Science and a Board Member of the Eastern Caribbean Centre at the College of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas.
As a diplomat and Senior Government Official and Civil Servant, Dr. Warner served from 1991 to 2000 as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications, Works and Public Utilities in St. Kitts, and from 1989 to 1991 as Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dr. Warner had attended CARICOM Heads of Government Meetings in 1984, 1985 and from 1987 to 1992; CARICOM Foreign Ministers Meetings from 1987 to 1992; OECS Meetings from 1983 to 1992; the Structuring of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union; Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings, 1987, 1989 – 1991; UN General Assembly as alternate delegate, 1987-1991; OAS General Assembly, 1988-1990; Law of the Sea, 1989; Caribbean Basin Assembly, 1988-1990; General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, 1989; World Summit on Development and the Environment, 1990; Miami Conference on Caribbean Development, 1993, 1986 and 1987; Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis with responsibilities to Oversee operations of overseas missions, coordinate foreign policies, manage economic, social and political matters related to CARICOM, provide daily briefings on matters of state, act as coordinator and chief spokesman for the government on the Eastern Caribbean Federation; act as Chief Accounting Officer to the Prime Minister for the construction and maintenance of the infrastructure of St. Kitts and Nevis; Air and Sea Transportation; Chair the Board of Tenders for government contracts 1984 to 1986; Commissioner General for the OECS – Expo ’86 with responsibility to ensure the proper and effective operational activities of the OECS pavilion 1983 – 1986; High Commissioner/Ambassador of the OECS to Canada representing the seven members of the OECS, coordinate all business and investment interests and foreign policies pertaining to the member countries, negotiate agreements and treaties relevant to individual countries, liaise among crown agents, non-government organisations, aid assistance agencies and member governments, monitor events and conditions in Canada, and prepare reports for ministers of foreign affairs, screen and recommend prospective investors, visit provinces of Canada periodically, promote trade and industry, manage administration and budget of the High Commission, promote tourism for the individual countries, international Telecommunications Union General Assembly, 1992-1994.
He held membership in the Caribbean Studies Association, American Political Science Association, International Affairs Association and World Review Foundation.
His major presentations include ‘The Caribbean Electorate: A Political Analysis’ (St. Kitts, 1995); ‘Energy Efficiency: The Gateway to the 21st Century’ St. Lucia, 1994); ‘Trade Policies within the Caribbean Community’ University of Puerto Rico, 1993); ‘Economic and Political Cooperation: The United States Virgin Islands and the Eastern Caribbean’ (University of the Virgin Islands, 1993); ‘Financing of the Global Economy’ (University of the Virgin Islands, 1992); ‘OECS Unity’(New York, 1991); Address to the Organisation of American States (OAS, 1989); ‘The Process of Nationalisation in Latin America’ (St. Louis University, 1988); and ‘Options for Eastern Caribbean Unity St. Kitts, 1987).
Among those left to mourn Dr. Asyll Warner’s passing are his wife Claire; only son Patrice who resides in Florida; brothers Valdemar, Levance, Austin of England and Ashton who is returning home to stay after living in Zambia since 1974; sisters Esther Warner-Evans and Bernadine Bergan of England; and many nieces and nephews.
According to Valdemar, brother’s body would soon be flown home and the public would be informed on the date of his burial.
