The House of Assembly fell silent as parliamentarians from both sides of the political divide united to pay profound tribute to the late Alpian Allen, MBE. Described as a “nation builder,” a trailblazer, and a dedicated public servant, the former Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister was honored with a solemn 10-second moment of silence and remembered for his lifelong contributions as an educator, lay preacher, and political representative.
Alpian Allen served for many years as the Parliamentary Representative for the constituency of North Leeward under the New Democratic Party (NDP) administration of Sir James Mitchell. Throughout his distinguished political career, he held several major ministerial portfolios, including Minister of Education and Minister of Foreign Affairs, among other assignments.
In recognition of his distinguished humanitarian and national service, Allen was awarded the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).
During the parliamentary session, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves praised Allen as an example of what public and community service truly mean. “He lived a good life and made a great contribution to his country,” Gonsalves said, noting that Allen performed “human service” for the citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security also recognized Allen as a political trailblazer from North Leeward who gave selfless service and “produced a lot of good fruits.”
In one of the session’s most moving tributes, the Leader of the Opposition spoke of a deep and enduring friendship with Allen that spanned several decades, transcending their political differences.
“Alpian and I were, as everyone knows, on different sides of the political divide, but we had a lot of respect for each other and we were friends,” the opposition leader recalled. Their bond began in their youth when they were preparing for their senior Cambridge exams. While the opposition leader attended the Grammar School, Allen was a pupil teacher at the local teacher center. The two frequently met upstairs by the Carnegie Library in Kingstown to discuss their studies and share notes.
Reflecting on their political campaigns, the opposition leader added with humor that he found it incredibly difficult to speak against Allen on the political platform. “I found it very difficult to say anything bad about him on the platform. So you had to use humor… in the right church but the wrong pew kind of talk.” He described Allen as a “terrific educator, Christian gentleman, [and] staunch Methodist.”
For the Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, and Sustainable Development, the loss was deeply personal. He revealed to the House that Alpian Allen was his great-uncle.
“He was always so calm, composed, and offering encouraging words. A very positive individual,” the Tourism Minister shared. He reflected on the intersection of the personal and political, describing Allen as a man who gave his entire life to the country, particularly to the people of North Leeward.
He shared a heartwarming story from the campaign trail in the village of Fitz-Hughes. While canvassing a local yard, a resident stopped him and said, “Dr. Sh…, you don’t need to come in here… You see this house? You see all them houses around here? Alpian built them. So you don’t need to come here.” The Minister thanked the people of North Leeward for keeping Allen’s memory and contributions alive, noting that the impact of his work remains highly visible.
Other members shared stories of Allen’s warmth and hospitality. The Minister of Housing recounted spending a great deal of time at the Allen household, where Allen’s widow, Linda, served as a piano tutor for his children, making a “very worthwhile contribution towards their educational foundation and music.”
Senator James, who grew up closely with Allen’s family, described him as a “quintessential Caribbean” figure who went about his life’s work with profound humility. He noted that Allen was originally from Cole Hill but spent much of his early life in Troumaca after marrying a local woman. Senator James recalled that even after retiring from active politics, Allen was always a source of guidance, frequently calling to offer words of encouragement to the younger generation of politicians.
Long before entering representational politics, Alpian Allen was a highly respected educator, shaping the minds of generations of young Vincentians. In addition to his work in schools, he was a devoted lay preacher in the Methodist Church, displaying a deep commitment to his faith and community fabric.
Recognizing his dual legacy of spiritual and civic leadership, the Speaker of the House of Assembly requested that members stand to observe a 10-second moment of silence. “I just wish to crave your indulgence just for 10 seconds to observe a moment of silence for the passing of one of our nation builders, Sir Alpian Allen,” the Speaker announced before the House stood in solemn tribute.
Prime Minister Gonsalves announced that a State Funeral will be held for the former parliamentarian on Wednesday, September 2nd.
To allow the nation to pay its final respects, the body of the late former minister will lie in state at the House of Assembly in Kingstown. Official members of Parliament will view the body from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM, followed by public viewing from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
The funeral service is scheduled for 2:00 PM at the Kingstown Methodist Church, after which he will be laid to his final rest.
In addition, the Ministry of Tourism has set up a dedicated tribute table and condolence book at the National Insurance Services (NIS) building in Kingstown, where members of the public are invited to sign and express their condolences to the grieving family.
