Alphonso Dennie

Alphonso Dennie
OBE
Minister of Education, Community Development and Youth Affairs
In office
4 May 1972 – 18 September 1974
PremierJames Fitz-Allen Mitchell
Preceded byHudson K. Tannis
Succeeded byC. St. Clair Dacon
Member of Parliament
for North Leeward
In office
4 May 1972 – 18 September 1974
Preceded bySamuel E. Slater
Succeeded byJohn G. Thompson
Personal details
Born
Alphonso Alpheus Dennie

(1928-05-16)16 May 1928
Troumaca, Saint Vincent, British Windward Islands
Died22 September 2020(2020-09-22) (aged 92)
Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Political partyNew Democratic Party
Mitchell/Sylvester Faction (1974-1975)
People's Political Party (until 1974)
Spouse
Stella Cottle
​
​
(m. 1950; died 2012)​
Children11
EducationErdiston Teachers' Training College

Alphonso Alpheus Dennie OBE (16 May 1928 - 22 September 2020) was a Vincentian educator who served as the Minister of Education, Community Development and Youth Affairs from 4 May 1972 to 18 September 1974. Outside of politics, he was the headmaster of schools both in the country as well as in Barbados. He spent the latter part of his career as chairman of the national electricity company and as chairman of the philatelic bureau.[1][2]

Early life[edit]

Dennie was born in Troumaca on 16 May 1928, the fourth of eight children. He attended the Troumaca Government School, then became a supernumerary teacher at the same school. In 1950, he was transferred to Union Island and made the assistant headmaster. He later transferred back to Troumaca to become the headmaster. He also served as a headmaster of the Georgetown Government School, and taught at the Chateaubelair Methodist School.[1]

After a second period as headmaster in Union Island (1962-1967), Dennie studied at Erdiston Teachers' Training College in Barbados (1967-1969). When he returned to Saint Vincent, he found a job managing the Oil Factory in Arnos Vale.[1]

Political career[edit]

Dennie first became interested in politics after attending Ebenezer Joshua's rallies.[3] Before the 1967 election, the incumbent MP for North Leeward (since 1951)[2] Samuel E. Slater defected to the Saint Vincent Labour Party (SVLP) from Joshua's People's Political Party (PPP). Dennie then secured the PPP nomination, but did not win against Slater.[1][4] The SVLP fielded newcomer John G. Thompson for the 1972 election. This time, Dennie won.[5]

Dennie was appointed Minister of Education, Community Development and Youth Affairs in the new government.[2] In this office, he implemented educational reforms and reinstated teachers who had been fired by the previous administration for political activity. He also recruited Shake Keane to be the chair of the Carnival Celebration Committee.[3]

For the 1974 election, Dennie joined a breakaway party led by Mitchell and several senior PPP members, but lost re-election to Thompson of the SVLP.[6]

Later career and retirement[edit]

After leaving the House of Assembly, Dennie and his family moved to Barbados in 1975. He taught at several schools, and also owned a restaurant.[1] Upon his return to St. Vincent in 1984,[3] Dennie became a manager at the national electricity company, St. Vincent Electricity Services, Ltd. (VINLEC). [1]

Dennie also served as the executive chairman of St. Vincent Philatelic Services Ltd. During his tenure, foreign philatelic organizations criticized the agency for its prolific issuance of new stamps, often featuring popular culture figures like Madonna and The Flintstones. In a letter, Dennie defended the stamp issues as beneficial publicity for the country and philately in general:

" . . . We can only surmise that the intentions of your groups are self-serving and with utter disregard of what will happen to our beautiful hobby if your scheme to scare away new collectors succeeds. But, then, you must know that as a sovereign nation we claim the right to the policy of issuing our stamps and should not be dictated to in this regard."[7]

Dennie retired in 2001,[1] and later moved to Sion Hill Bay.[1] He experienced vision loss in his eighties.[8]

Personal life[edit]

Dennie first saw his wife Stella (1929-2012) when she was a member of the choir at Troumaca Methodist Church, and then decided to join the choir himself. Dennie and Stella were married in Kingstown in 1950 and had seven children.[9] Their oldest son and second child Olin J.B. Dennie (1953-2016)[1] became a Lawyer who served as a Magistrate and also as Speaker of the House of Assembly (1984-1985).[10][2]

Death[edit]

Dennie died of natural causes on 22 September 2020 at Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in Kingstown.[1]

Dennie was given a state funeral on 12 October. In the morning, he lay in state at the House of Assembly chamber; the viewing was attended by the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, current and former MP's, the judiciary, visiting diplomats, and the general public. The service was held in the afternoon at the Methodist Church. [11][12] Among the speakers at the service were Mike Findlay, former PM Sir James Fitz-Allen Mitchell, and St Clair Leacock.[13]

Honours[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j King, Nelson A. (5 October 2020). "Former SVG Education Minister Alphonso Dennie passes at 92". Caribbean Life News. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Members of Parliament from Legislative Council 1951 to Independence 1979 to Present" (PDF). House of Assembly of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b c John, Kenneth (8 June 2018). "Four receive a belated gift, courtesy of the ULP". thevincentian.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  4. ^ "St. Vincent and the Grenadines General Election Results 1967". www.caribbeanelections.com. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  5. ^ Richards, Patmos (2 March 2018). "How I remember John G. Thompson". thevincentian.com. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  6. ^ "St. Vincent and the Grenadines General Election Results 1974". www.caribbeanelections.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  7. ^ McAllister, Bill (21 May 1993). "The Isle of Plenty". The Washington Post.
  8. ^ John, Kenneth (4 November 2016). "Merry-go-round turns misery-go-round". thevincentian.com. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Vincies mourn death of Stella Dennie". Caribbean Life News. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Remembering Olin Dennie: "Olin and I were black conscious," says colleague". thevincentian.com. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  11. ^ Noel (8 October 2020). "An Official Funeral will be held here next week for the late Alphonso Dennie, former Member of the House of Assembly". NBC SVG. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  12. ^ "Alphonso Dennie Laid To Rest - "He Now Belongs To The Ages"". NEWS784. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Dennie gets son's admiration". thevincentian.com. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  14. ^ St. Vincent & the Grenadines list:"No. 54633". The London Gazette. 30 December 1996. pp. 47–48.
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