“People’s Champion” – Daniel Malcolm is laid to rest

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, January 15, 2023 – Former legislative Council Member Daniel Malcolm born on May 3, 1936 was laid to rest January 11, 2023; sent off with an official funeral attended by sitting members of parliament and other government agencies.

Malcolm was escorted by police officers to the Parade Grounds in South Caicos where the thanksgiving service, remembering his life and times, was held.

Government leaders: Premier Washington Misick, Minister of Health Shaun Malcolm and Leader of the Opposition Edwin Astwood participated in the service.

Former Chief Minister, Norman Saunders spoke about Malcolm, his brother in law whom he affectionately called ‘Dan’.

“Dan exemplified all the good qualities in a person, he was a brilliant man in many respects.” He said. “He worked with us in the PNP in getting the ‘76 Constitution— He was an outstanding speaker; a hardworking person.”

Saunders described the late Daniel Malcolm’s prowess in athletics and his many business ventures which created employment opportunities for residents in South Caicos.

“I believe there are many people here who would credit him for situations they were able to overcome after  many difficulties with the government. They will remember him until their time comes.”

Albert Clare described him as a defender of “the weak, the vulnerable and those abused by their employers” calling him “The People’s Champion.”

“Politics, the economy and self-determination always dominated [our] talks. He was a statesman in the mold and character of (South African) President Nelson Mandela,” he noted.

Malcolm is credited as being a “powerhouse” in Jamaican Sports at the highest level; both in track and field and football with an unfortunate injury being the only roadblock to international competition.

Emily Malcom, his niece, stood to detail his life.

In her tribute, she revealed that Malcolm was a prolific businessman, having served as banker at the Bank of London and Montreal, a teacher at Southern Senior High School, corporate secretary at the Jamaica Banana Board, General Manager at Bahamas Plumbing, Entrepreneur, owner of the First Nightclub and first Cinema in the TCI, Member of the Legislative Council and much more.

He served through two British constitutional takeovers.

During the first, through much agitation, Daniel Malcolm and others gained the support of Caribbean leaders allowing him to speak on the country’s behalf at the United Nations highlighting the TCIs constitutional plight after which the British quickly restored the power to the people.

Moved by his speech, the UN invited him to make further presentations on decolonization at recurring conferences.  The words of one of those speeches as recently as 2015 have gone on to define Malcolm’s core beliefs and allowed his eloquence to be demonstrated and his passion for country distinctive.

“In the world of the Dependent Territories, there will be bitter-sweet memories. Sweet, because we would have arrived at a time and place when hope: of complete freedom from the colonial yoke still reign supreme; and bitter, because seemingly, after memories of the slave trade, the Holocaust, Apartheid, two World Wars continue to recede into our conscious recollection of past history, colonialism remains ever present with us.”