Eric Williams Obituary, Funeral

Late former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Eric Williams died on March 29, 1981, in his official residence. He was aged 69.

Williams, who was referred to as “The Father of the Nation”, was a historian-politician who fought for the independence of Trinidad and Tobago.

A 20-day period of national mourning was declared to honour the late politician.

Williams had served as chief minister in 1956, before his country’s independence, and became Prime Minister in 1962.

He founded First Political Party and recorded many political victories with the then People’s National Movement.

The Caribbean historian, had authored the book Capitalism and Slavery, which is based on the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, the decline of sugar plantations and the slave trade era in the 1830s.

In 2011, Mariel Brown directed the documentary film Inward Hunger: the Story of Eric Williams, to mark the 100th posthumous birthday of Williams.

Williams was married to Evelyn Siulan Soy Moyou, who later passed away in 1953. He also had three children in his lifetime.