Former Cabinet Secretary to be laid to rest March 3

Tribute has been paid to Brendon Browne, a former Cabinet Secretary, who passed away on February 17, 2020.

The former civil servant was the first person to be appointed Cabinet Secretary in the Dr Ralph Gonsalves-led administration, and on Tuesday, the Office of the Prime Minister paid tribute and expressed condolences to his relatives in an obituary.

“The Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, particularly the Honourable Prime Minister, the Cabinet of Ministers and the Office of the Prime Minister, extend sincere condolences to the family of the late Mr Brendon Browne.

“… Mr Browne served with distinction at the local and regional levels. He spent the earlier part of his work life as a member of the teaching service prior to joining the public service. His exceptional civil service career spanned more than 25 years, during which period he served in senior positions in various Ministries, including Foreign Affairs, Tourism, Culture, Justice and Health. These included several acting appointments as Permanent Secretary and culminated with his appointment to the post of Cabinet Secretary in March 2001,” the release said.

Subsequent to his retirement from the public service of this country, in November 2007, Mr Browne was appointed as High Commissioner of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to Canada. He held this office until June 2011.

“Brendon Browne was a man of great dignity and impeccable deportment. He was well-respected among his contemporaries and persons of other generations, and earned a reputation as an expert on matters related to protocol. His published work, Protocol and You, remains a definitive text on the subject.”

Mr Browne held bachelors and masters degrees in International Relations from the University of Windsor and was married to the late Arlene Keane-Browne, a former teacher, dramatist and director of training who pre-deceased him on December 4, 2020. Together they had one daughter Jennis. He was also the brother of two former parliamentary representatives of the Marriaqua constituency – Kenneth Browne who ran on a St Vincent Labour Party ticket and Bernard Wyllie of the New Democratic Party.

Mr Browne will be laid to rest on Tuesday, March 3, 2020. The funeral service will take place at the St. John’s Roman Catholic Church, Marriaqua, commencing at 2:00 p.m. Viewing will be from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Interment will be at the Dumbarton Cemetery.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Browne’s family, relatives and friends at this difficult time. We pray that Almighty God will bless, comfort and sustain them during this period of bereavement. May his soul rest in peace,” the release from the Prime Minister’s office said.