PM: Cato lived a life of faith

The only female parliamentarian at the time of Independence of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 1979, Margaret Rose Cato née Daniel, was laid to rest on Monday, May 23, after a funeral service at the St. George’s Cathedral in Kingstown.{{more}}

Cato, who was 93, served in the House of Assembly from January 1974 to 1984, a nominated member in the House of Assembly of the St. Vincent Labour Party.

In his tribute to her, Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves described Cato as having a youthful outlook on life and always being full of life, wisdom and kindness.

“She was always charming and humourous, very optimistic,” he said, adding that as a staunch Anglican and believer in God, she lived “a life of elemental goodness and faith.”

Joining the Prime Minister in paying last respects to Cato were other members of Parliament, including Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace; Deputy Prime Minister Girlyn Miguel; Member of Parliament (MP) for South Windward Frederick Stephenson; MP for Central Kingstown St. Clair Leacock and Speaker of the House of Assembly Hendrick Alexander, who were all in attendance.

Former parliamentarian Rene Baptiste read the New Testament Lesson.

Cato was one of the founding members of the Women’s Arm of the St Vincent Labour Party, which Cato’s nephew Joseph “Burns” Bonadie described as being the “backbone of the Labour Party”.

President of the Women’s Arm of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) Nichola Evans said that Cato’s passion was politics and that she demanded that there be room at the table of decision making for women.

A teacher, nurse, housewife and businesswoman, Cato was not one to sit twiddling her thumbs. She was well-known for her skills in the preservation of fruits and flowers, and during the political season she went up and down the country doing house to house campaigning.

Her granddaughter LaFerne Fraser in her tribute said Cato raised her mother Roslyn, as her daughter as she had no children of her own.

Roslyn was the biological child of Cato’s sister.

“Little Roslyn must have been a blessing to her, and Mama became a precious blessing to us. All our lives we have had the privilege to know her as our ‘Mama’”.

Fraser said “Mama” was always there for the members of her family.

“Mama and her second husband Arnot Cato, who we knew as granddad, didn’t have to love us as much as they did. We can’t imagine being loved any more,” Fraser said.

“She lived on purpose, with a purpose of being a mirror of God’s life.”

Cato’s eulogy was delivered by her nephew Joseph “Burns” Bonadie.

The veteran trade unionist said Cato was born in the village of Gordon Yard, the 5th of 16 children born to her parents. After she was born, the Daniel family moved to Barrouallie where the remaining children were born.

Today, only the last child Catherine survives.

The homily at the funeral mass was delivered by the Very Reverend Leopold Friday, Bishop of the Windward Islands, who based his sermon on the scripture: John Chapter 14, verses 1- 6.

Prior to Cato’s funeral service, mourners were given the opportunity to view her body at the Peace Memorial Hall. She was laid to rest at the Cathedral church yard.