Dr Rupert Roopnarine dies

Former Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Dr Rupert Roopnarine has died at age 83.

Dr Roopnarine served as Minister of Education and then Minister of Public Service under the APNU+AFC government from 2015-2020.

Priya Manickchand, a former education minister and now minister of local government and regional development, paid tribute to the former parliamentarian.

“Saddened at the passing of Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, who, I have no doubt in my mind, lived his life with deep love for and interest in Guyana. Rupert’s service and the manifestation of that love is complex and can appear confusing considering some inexplicable actions of his even before he became Education Minister but certainly during his tenure there and in his association with the PNC/APNU. He knew and heard my views on this repeatedly. Nevertheless he remained polite and courteous and a joy to speak with. He was a charming and extremely interesting human being with a flair for language that was as gripping as it was admirable,” Manickchand said.

She also recalled a fond memory between the two during the period of transition in 2015.

“When Rupert assumed office in 2015 just after me, he found some of my personal belongings such as art work, books etc and he kindly packed them and sent them to my home. This was decent and a true reflection of who he was, a good, sensible, grounded and decent man. And you may be wondering why it is even worth mentioning given that it was such a small and perhaps expected gesture in a civilized place that is a democracy but much indecency happened in that time with the change of govt and other former ministers had horrid experiences from the new incoming ministers. Rupert distinguished himself from that category,” she said.