The Tribune

By CELESTE NIXON

Tribune Staff Reporter

cnixon@tribunemedia.net

FELLOW members of the dynamic generation ushered into politics in 2007 yesterday spoke out about the loss of their colleague, former Cabinet Minister Charles Maynard.

Former Minister of State for the Environment Phenton Neymour said he had a special relationship with Mr Maynard which extended well beyond politics.

“Charles Maynard and I began our journey together,” he said.

“We both attended Queens College and I have known him for almost 40 years.

“We were always friends, as were our families – my father was friendly with his father from our high school days.”

After college, the two men became politically active in the PLP at the same time.

“We became very close friends after the 1992 election. When he was first elected to deputy chairman of the party, he was very young – I think only 23 – and I was very active in his getting elected.”

Mr Neymour said he and Mr Maynard launched and took part in a number of initiatives while in the PLP, including the Centre for Positive Change along with Dr Bernard Nottage.

That initiative became the germ of the Coalition for Democratic Reform (CDR), when the three men broke away to form a new party.

Mr Neymour and Mr Maynard then joined the FNM together in 2006.

He said his journey in politics has always included Mr Maynard, and now it is difficult to know how to proceed.

“We ran together, we did everything together. His passing has been very difficult for me, because I’ve always had him by my side,” Mr Neymour said.

He added: “There are certain things about him people never got to know, for example that he had a big heart, that he really loved his family; father, mother siblings.

“He really admired his children – any event at school, he was always there. And he especially loved his wife.”

Mr Neymour said that in his view, Mr Maynard took “a lot of unnecessary blows” in politics, “but he always took it with honour and with a good heart”.

Describing the FNM chairman as “fearless”, former Minister of State for Youth, Sports and Culture Byran Woodside said Mr Maynard made a significant contribution to politics and the country.

He said: “I found him to be quite an ally, Charles turned out to consummate politician who had nothing but the best interest of this country at heart, he also turned out to be an excellent minister, bar none.

“He served as outstanding Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture.”

Among some of his accomplishments Mr Woodside said, Mr Maynard was able to complete the National Stadium, put forward the Sports Authority Bill and a number of important laws related to culture.

“In a very short period Charles left an indelible impact in the political arena, certainly he was a fierce opponent as a debater and he had the oratorical skills of a comedian.

“What I like most about him was the fact that he was fearless, when it came to defending his views and his ideals you could count on getting a good argument. Charles had a very commonsensical approach to life, he was also the life of the party – he will be surely missed,” said Mr Woodside, who knew Mr Maynard since he was 16.

In a press statement yesterday, the FNM said: “The passing of our national chairman, Charles Maynard, is a tremendous loss of a rising political leader and public servant, not only to the FNM, but also to our beloved country.”