Less than an hour after burying his murdered son, trade union leader Michael Annisette stood before mourners to pay tribute to PNM stalwart and one of the labour movement’s most revered figures, Ferdinand “Ferdie” Ferreira, describing him as a mentor, a father figure and a warrior for justice.

Annisette, accompanied by his eldest daughter and his first grandson, delivered the tribute at the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Stanmore Avenue, Port of Spain, on December 16, honouring Ferreira’s lifelong service to workers, his deep patriotism and his unwavering belief in justice.

“I knew I had to be here today,” Annisette said quietly. “Unfortunately, I had to bury my son at the same time. But I told my daughter and my first grandson we had to be here. With the guidance of the ancestors, we would make it on time.”