03/08/2025
STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HONOURABLE MRS KAMLA PERSAD-BISSESSAR, SC, MP, ON THE PASSING OF INDEPENDENT SENATOR THE HONOURABLE DEOROOP TEEMAL, PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF INDIAN CULTURE
Sunday, 3 August 2025
It is with profound sorrow that I received news of the passing of Independent Senator Deoroop Teemal, President of the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC), who left us in the early hours of Sunday, 3 August 2025.
On behalf of the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago, I extend sincere condolences to his wife Geeta, their two daughters, the wider Teemal family, the NCIC fraternity, and all who valued his friendship and counsel.
For more than two decades, Senator Teemal served culture and country with distinction. As President of the NCIC and a senior organiser of Divali Nagar, he championed the preservation and celebration of Indo-Trinidadian heritage, fostering mutual respect across our diverse society. In the Senate, his measured analyses, courtesy, and steadfast commitment to the public good earned universal respect.
In my many interactions with Senator Teemal — at the Divali Nagar, community forums, and within the political sphere — he was invariably warm and cordial. His gracious demeanour and attentive ear promoted genuine dialogue and strengthened the spirit of cooperation essential to effective public service.
Beyond his cultural and parliamentary contributions, Senator Teemal applied his expertise as a civil and structural engineer to projects that bolstered critical infrastructure and public utilities, underscoring his dedication to national development and the welfare of our citizens.
His passing is a tremendous loss to the Indo-Trinidadian cultural community and the nation as a whole. Yet his work — profoundly patriotic and grounded in public service — will endure, inspiring present and future generations to honour their heritage and serve Trinidad and Tobago with the same devotion.
May his soul journey peacefully into the cosmic embrace of the Divine, liberated from worldly toil and crowned with the blessings of a life well lived. May his family find solace in the high esteem in which he was held, and may his legacy remain a guiding light for all who labour for cultural preservation and national progress.
Om Sadgati.
