Norma Keizer has satisfied the qualifications for National Hero/Heroine

Fri Mar 01, 2013

by Cheryl Phills King

We are all deeply saddened by the passing of Mrs Norma Ince Keizer, on Tuesday, February 19, 2013, beloved former Head-Mistress of the Girls’ High School (GHS) 1975-1990. The GHS sisterhood is grieving with this tremendous loss. Mrs Keizer was an outstanding teacher at GHS for many years, a role-model and friend. A truly dynamic, patriotic remarkable person and a fitting candidate for National Hero/Heroine, she was laid to rest on Tuesday, February 26, 2013.{{more}}

Ever dignified and highly respected, along with her teaching her nation-building contributions are widespread. She was the founding editor of the “Searchlight” newspaper in 1995 after retiring from GHS. She documented the history of education in St Vincent in an article for “Flambeau”. recently published in “Search For Identity” (2006). In the same publication she wrote another article entitled “An Education Problem.”

In this Black History Month, we recall that Norma Ince Keizer was instrumental in instituting the teaching of West Indian history to students at the Girls’ High School when she returned from her studies at the University of the West Indies. The text-book, written by Roy Augier, Shirley Gordon et al., became familiar and remains so in the minds of those students.

She paid attention to the needs of her students not only academically, but economically as well. She was resolute in steering financial assistance toward brilliant financially-challenged students who have gone on to make a success of their lives. Her teaching not only incorporated her girl students, but also boys at the Grammar School and police officers. The addition of the Learning Resource Centre, Library and Science Laboratories at GHS ensured the expansion of various areas of learning for the students. The introduction of the Steel Pan furthered the exposure to and adoption of local music at the school.

She was very supportive of the efforts of the group of former GHS sisters in New York who started a GHS Alumnae Association in New York during the time that she was the headmistress of GHS. She was in the forefront of establishing a printing press in St Vincent and the Grenadines, enabling all three newspapers to be printed in the country.

Her involvement with other civic activities has been well-documented in the newspapers. The St Vincent National Trust – her efforts contributed to the building and development of this body; the General Employees Co-operatives Credit Union Ltd (GECCU) – she was Director of GECCU’s Board from 1995 to 1998; member of the Scholarship Committee from 1995 to 2002 and Deputy Chairperson of the Education Committee in 1997; Chairman of the Public Service Board of Appeal, Justice of the Peace and Chairman of the National Heroes Committee.

We are all better human beings because of her impact on us, the nation and the world. She will be missed, but will live on, not only in the lives of her family, but in the lives of the many who were fortunate to be influenced by her intellect, humility, grace and guidance.

We keep her family, in particular, in our thoughts and prayers at this sad time. She and her late husband Clarence raised three daughters, Andrea, Clare and Simone who are all assets to the nation.

Condolences to her immediate and extended family, GHS, Searchlight contacts, friends and other acquaintances.

Hers has been a life well-lived and we love and thank her.

It is amazing that so many have captured the essence of Mrs Keizer so accurately, encapsulating traits of strength, discipline, quiet but firm, caring and intolerant of what was not productive, constructive and/or not done properly in her estimation.

Any of her short-comings are forgivable and dwarfed by the achievement of the good that she accomplished. She has left an outstanding legacy which deserves to be permanently recorded in the national history of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Her influence, resilience and pioneering zeal loom large in St Vincent and the Grenadines and beyond.

A transformational leader with vision and foresight, she has satisfied the qualifications for National Hero/Heroine.

May she rest in peace and may light perpetual shine upon her.