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August 2010
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Sir Arthur Lewis, a Nobel Laureate of Caribbean heritage is well known for saying that economics was “based on an understanding of the conditions under which people live.” It was not until I met Prof Dennis Pantin in 2003 that I saw this philosophy embodied in the passion and spirit of one person. I understood only then through his work, that money, fame and success meant very little if one was not concerned with what was happening around us–to our people, to our country and to our world. For Dennis Pantin, success was being able to change the harsh realities that many are faced with, even if these circumstances changed only for one person at a time. In Prof Pantin I found an open mind, a kind heart and a sometimes strange but brilliant perspective on life which opened for me a whole new meaning of the word “success.” Prof Pantin taught me that success was not selfish; it was not about recognition or fame but rather about affecting and improving people’s lives. His involvement in environmental economics, in work on poverty and sustainable livelihoods, governance and constitutional reform, was not restricted to office hours at the University. He lived and practised the teachings and philosophy of sustainable development, whether it was through refusing to buy bottled water because it contributed to waste and pollution, or printing on both sides of paper to save trees, and even sacrificing his Republic Day holiday to walk for Constitutional Reform! Prof’s mind was as complicated as his handwriting, yet there was a simplicity that belied this academic genius, which appealed to everyone, from the vendors around the Savannah, to the person sitting next to him in a bar, to the executive in fine couture, naturally unlike how Prof invariably would be dressed. By Donna Ramjattan I can’t help but smile every time I reminisce on the huge piles of books and papers on his desk. Prof was quick to reassure me, “Don’t worry, I know where everything is.” He cleverly dismissed any notion that his office was disorganized by referring you to a poster stuck on his notice board with these words attributed to Albert Einstein: “If a cluttered desk signs a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” As a member of the Sustainable Economic Development Unit (SEDU), I recall whenever the team travelled to various Caribbean destinations for conferences and workshops, Prof would always make sure to enjoy the pleasures of the Caribbean. He would say “we can’t be all work and no play!” His standard requirement of Caribbean hotels was that the beach must be within walking distance so that he could take a dip after the long meetings–he loved the beach. He enjoyed these simple pleasures and made you, as a Caribbean citizen, proud of the region’s natural beauty. Prof was notorious for his little black diary, his palm pilot in which he stored everything. His handwriting looked like hieroglyphics, yet even with his haphazard method of record-keeping, he always knew everything that was happening around him, everything! Prof had a strong work ethic. Work hardly seemed something that required deliberate effort as Prof would always remind us of a bigger purpose that involved what he and the SEDU stood for. He created something positive out of challenging circumstances–be it personal trials or even national economic crises. He had faith in us and in society–even when we lost faith in ourselves. Everyone has a story; a life and a world uniquely crafted based on one’s experiences. I feel privileged to have shared in a small excerpt–a line or two, perhaps a paragraph–of Prof’s story. For many of us, Prof Pantin represents the defining chapter that lays the foundation for the rest of our stories. Through this experience we can only promise him that the legacy he has left with and in us does not end, but remains as undying as that undeniable spirit, that passion for life and that love for who we are and what we do. He will remain etched in our hearts and our histories. Prof was an inspiration, a mentor, a best friend and, as all who ever met him would attest, a true, true Caribbean man. He instilled in us the values to work hard and play even harder, to treasure friends and family and to love life. There is no denying his love of culture. He knew how to make the word “lime” come to life. There was no job left undone without a good lime to top it off. Prof, thanks for the memories. Your legacy will live on through the work of the SEDU and through your students. -Malini Maharaj and Donna Ramjattan were students of Prof. Pantin and, at the time of his passing, his Teaching Assistants. Donna works at SEDU. Photos: Aneel Karim |
