Constituents say Lowe will be sorely missed

by Michron Robinson

Residents of the Christ Church East constituency say they will remember their late former Member of Parliament Dr Denis Lowe as a committed, dependable representative and a man of his word.

And although he has not represented them in four years, having failed to win his seat in the last two general elections in 2018 and 2022, they say his passing has left an unfillable void.

The clinical psychologist, who served as MP for the area for two terms under previous Democratic Labour Party (DLP) administrations, died on Friday at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

Parish Land resident Deborah Trotman, who worked as Dr Lowe’s secretary in his constituency office for 10 years, told Barbados TODAY the former Minister of Environment and Drainage was “very helpful, loving, and fun to be with”.

“He was a people’s person and he would mingle with anybody. He would come and lime with the guys on the block. You would not even believe that he was a minister because he [mixed] with everybody, he was a very pleasant person,” she recalled.

Trotman said she would always remember how Lowe helped constituents when he first won the seat in 2008.

“He was committed to the job and he really helped a lot of people around here with homes, jobs, and whatever it is,” she said.

Sharing her own experience of how Dr Lowe eased her family’s burdens tremendously, Trotman added: “He helped my family a lot. He gave my son a job. My sister passed and then my niece and he helped us a lot and he will be sorely missed.”

“I know that they would not find anyone like Dr Lowe again – not in this constituency.”

Another Parish Land resident, 56-year-old Barbara Best, said she met the former MP when he started canvassing ahead of the 2008 general elections and he proved himself a true friend and worthy leader.

“I know Dr Lowe from coming around and introducing himself to us and telling us to give him a chance, and he made sure that he did not leave out anybody in the community,” she reflected.

“If there is anything that he could assist us with, he did. There was nothing that you asked and he couldn’t assist with; he would try as best he could.”

Best said Dr Lowe’s death had been a surprising and hard blow.

“I felt really bad, that’s the honest truth, because when I was in desperate need of work I went to him and he did say that he would make sure that I get a job [and I did],” the National Conservation Commission worker added.

In Sayes Court, a woman who gave her name as Winifred agreed that Dr Lowe’s legacy would be hard for anyone to follow.

“Dr Lowe cannot be replaced in no form or fashion, don’t care who come,” she said passionately.

“From the time [he] came in this constituency he was doing. Even when he wasn’t a minister he was still helping the people. He really can’t be replaced.”

Winifred wished the next DLP candidate the best of luck but insisted that they would have to be willing to sacrifice.

“Whoever come got to come with a big heart, a strong mind, and got to be willing to work,” she said.

Dr Lowe was known to host annual football tournaments and various activities for which residents said they were very grateful.

“Every bank holiday that we had as a community we had something going on, whether it was Parish Land, Silver Sands, or Sayes Court…. When Dr Lowe had tournaments, it was prize money straight up,” Winifred said as other neighbours agreed.

“I will remember him for his kindness. And you see that smile? You can’t get away from it. I would always remember him for it,” she added.

An elderly resident in the Silver Sands area, Myrna, said Dr Lowe came into the constituency promising to serve and he left serving.

“I found him to be a genuine person. He was friendly, interested and you could ask him [any] question,” she said.

Resident and landscaper in Carters Gap, “Sparrow”, added that Dr Lowe provided opportunities for him in landscaping and he would miss his commitment to the constituency. (MR)