The National Alliance family is deeply saddened by the passing of trade union stalwart, humanitarian, vocal community activist and woman-of-grit Patricia Pantophet, 57, in Bogota Colombia, where she was flown for medical attention in early July.
Pantophlet was the sister of National Alliance number two candidate Member of Parliament George Pantophlet. She was a close friend and avid supporter of the National Alliance party.
As a trade union activist and former President of the Windward Islands Civil Servants Union (now WICSU/PSU), Patricia Pantophlet was a very strong defender of workers rights. She stood up for workers in St. Maarten and fought tooth-and-nail to ensure that workers rights were respected, protected and preserved. Due to her efforts, tremendous benefits were gained for workers and for the labor force in general.
For many years she fought a personal battle with the chronic auto-immune disease Lupus.
This never dampened her spirits to look out for the people of St. Maarten. In the face of her personal battles and even after she had left the WICSU fold as President, Patsy, as we affectionately called her, remained very vocal and would constantly condemn and speak out about unfair labour practices and unfairness in general via letters in the newspapers and on radio programs.
She was not one to be silenced and for many years had been the voice of the voiceless in the community.
Pantophlet was also a humanitarian at heart and served on several foundations and community groups including as a member of the Alzheimer’s Foundation; former member of the GOA and member and inspiration behind the Pantophlet Villa Foundation, which raised funds and supported school students. She was a Dismissal and Complaints Office at Labour Affairs for almost four decades.
“St. Maarten has lost one of its strong trade union activists, a great union leader and visionary woman who had always been passionate about protecting and advancing the rights of workers in St. Maarten,” National Alliance Leader Member of Parliament William Marlin said in a press release on Sunday.
“The National Alliance family sympathises with MP George Pantophlet; the Pantophlet family; the trade union movement in St. Maarten and to entire community on this big loss for our nation.”
“She fought for workers to the very end and she fought Lupus to the very end with all her strength. The National Alliance hopes that her indelible mark in the labor movement and in the community will be an inspiration for others to continue to uphold and respect what is right for workers and for our community. She now rests in the arms of The Lord. May her soul rest in eternal peace,” NA Leader William Marlin said.
