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THE Senate suspended all of its business on Tuesday to pay tribute to its Leader of Government Business and Energy Minister Franklin Khan, 63, who died at his Maraval home on Saturday.
Khan's empty chair at the top of the Government's front bench in the Parliament Chamber, a simple arrangement of flowers on his desk and his name tag in place, reminded all senators of the sombre mood in the chamber and the void left in the Senate by his death. Several senators wore white and purple flowers on their clothes in tribute to Khan.
Senate President Christine Kangaloo said Khan embodied the best that was Trinidad and Tobago and the challenges in his life "would have broken lesser men."
"He returned to politics when it would have been easier to walk away," she said.
Kangaloo served with Khan in former prime minister Patrick Manning's (deceased) Cabinet from 2002 to 2005.
Saying it was right for the Senate to only pay tribute to Khan, Kangaloo said there was "no appetite for any other business in the Chamber today (Tuesday)."
She added that all of the business listed on the Order Paper would resume at the Senate's next sitting.
The Senate had been scheduled to debate the Sexual Offences Amendment Bill 2021 on Tuesday. No urgent questions were filed by Opposition and Independent senators to the Government either.
No new government senator was sworn in to replace Khan.
Opposition senators, who boycotted the Senate's last sitting on April 13 for fear of contracting covid19, returned to the Senate on Tuesday. The Opposition also boycotted sittings of the House of Representatives on April 9 and 14 on the same grounds. Opposition Senator Wade Mark paid tribute to Khan on the Opposition's behalf.
Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat, who assumed the role of Leader of Government Business, thanked Mark and Independent Senator Paul Richards for agreeing to suspend the Senate's business so all senators who wished to pay tribute to Khan could do so.
'Country boy come to town'
Rambharat said he was glad that his final conversation with Khan last Friday was one in which Khan was "full of life and laughed."
He said he and Khan shared a special bond.
"Both of us are country boys come to town."
Rambharat said Khan always had the ability to make some one laugh while saying "this is a serious matter."
As he told senators about their experiences growing up in Mayaro, Rambharat said Khan had a love for cricket and matches and was never distracted from the game.
"He watched every ball."
As he recalled Khan's abilities to treat everyone he met with fairness and dignity, Rambharat said the outpouring of love for Khan was not surprising.
Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon said Khan "always had a smile on his face."
She disclosed that Khan's smile was always brightest when he spoke about his family, especially his children and grandchildren.
[caption id="attachment_885211" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Franklin Khan -[/caption]
As a grandmother herself, Gopee-Scoon said they would often share stories about their grandchildren.
"We were doting grandparents."
Mark said he was unprepared for the news of Khan's death.
"It shocked all of us."
Although they were political opponents for many years, Mark cherished the times he spent working with Khan on various parliamentary committees. Mark admitted it was difficult for anyone not to be moved by his smile and "infectious sense of humour."
Richards said he was shocked to learn of Khan's death.
"I had to catch myself."
Richards said Khan's death was a reminder of life's fragility.
'A gentleman at all times'
Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne said Khan's death left a significant void in TT's politics.
"He was, at all times, a gentleman and his demeanour has always been of a standard that made him pleasant, approachable, understanding and, most of all, fair.
"A more balanced and rational person you could never find."
He said Khan's wife Laura asked him to tell senators and the public "how disturbed and disgusted he was by the venom that seems to be growing in the hearts of some..by the nasty personal attacks and the displays of viciousness and malice."
Browne said Khan was different.
"In many ways he harked back to a different era, an era of intellect, of gentlemen and ladies, of dignity, of wit and intelligence, of soundness above loudness."
Browne prayed that "we remain inspired by him in how we approach our duties and in how we approach the future."
Independent Senator Anthony Vieira said Khan's greatness was his "devotion to duty, humility and compassion."
Recalling various challenges Khan faced in public life, Vieira said, "He always kept his head above water in the fulfilment of his duty."
He said Khan had no illusions of grandeur and was a patriot. "The balance sheet ends in credit."
Social Development Minister Donna Cox said Khan felt as "at home in Moka as he was back in Mayaro."
She said Khan always taught her "in every coming, there is a leaving..in every smile, there is a tear." Cox added, "Death lays bare what really matters."
Rural Development and Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein thanked Khan for setting the groundwork for local government reform when he held this portfolio in 2015. He remembered his last conversation with Khan last Friday.
"He was his usual jolly self."
Khan hailed as a mentor
Minister in the Agriculture Ministry Avinash Singh said Khan was a mentor. He disclosed that Khan would often call him at 6 am every morning and open their chat with, "I hope you're up already..farmers move early."
Government Senator Laurel Lezama Lee Sing said Khan's death was an example of "the oddest of curveballs pitched at us." Lezama Lee Sing said Khan believed TT's young people "are our society's future and hope."
Senate Vice-President Nigel De Freitas said, "He was honourable because that is who he was. The halls of Heaven have one extra smile."
Independent Senator Amrita Deonarine lamented not being able share a recipe with Khan that she promised him. She said Khan's life showed "in the midst of all the political banter, it would not hurt us to be kind when the political curtains are open."
Independent Senator Evans Welch praised Khan for respecting the views of all senators and helping them to understand the energy sector better.
Government Senator Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal said Khan was "a political uncle." She remembered having a meal with him at Parliament and she had "a chaotic plate." But Khan, Sagramsingh-Sooklal continued, "has his soup, salad and main course set with grace."
Independent senators Dr Maria Dillon-Remy and Hazel Thompson-Ahye reflected on Khan's love for Tobago.
 
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