By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE issues that social activist Dr Hazel Brown tackled decades ago are still relevant today.
And more voices are being encouraged to speak up about those issues in the fierce manner that she did.
On Thursday night, veteran journalist Ken Ali paid tribute to Dr Brown who passed away earlier that day at age 80.
Ali was one of the recipients of the Mayaro Legacy Awards held at bpTT’s Resource Centre in Mayaro.
Upon collection of his award, Ali remembered Dr Brown who he said also left a legacy and mark on Trinidad and Tobago.
Speaking to AZP News afterwards, he said he was saddened by her death.
Ali said, “Hazel Brown was one of our first social female activists. When I joined the media in the 1970s, she was marching against high food prices and I admired her, in fact, it was one of the first stories I covered.”
Adding that she fought for social justice throughout her life, and was strong about gender issues and consumer rights, he said, he always saw her as fearless, building strong relationships around her.
Ali said there were many courageous people arising out of the Independence movement of 1962, the Black Power movement of the 1970s and Dr Brown was one of those.
The people of that day fought for upward class movement including the trade unions and “now, today that seemed to have died,” Ali said.
“We have lost our middle class in this country. There is a tiny rich that is getting richer, the poor is getting poorer,” he said.
He said today, crime and poverty continue to plague Trinidad and Tobago.
Ali is suggesting that the media be more aggressive in reporting on those issues.
“With all those issues out there, there is need for people like Hazel Brown in this country,” he said.
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