Richard Joseph

I graduated from 6 Modern in 1970. That was soon after the Black Power rising that we spent many hours discussing in class with Dr. Gocking, rather than our syllabus of the Tudors and Stuarts in English History. Needless to say the last weeks before exams were a full time catch up exercise.

Though I have been a life member of the Union for longer than I remember, I was able to successfully evade sharing in the responsibility for its activities until 1999 when my younger son entered St. Marys. Nestor Lambert was responsible for recruiting me to the Management Committee at a time when I was vulnerable, as I wanted to be actively involved in the School’s activities while my son was a student. Though he (my son) has since become an old boy, I have not been able to unstick myself from the Committee. Absence from the first meeting after one AGM resulted in my unexpected (to me) election to an executive position on the Committee. Since that event I have served in several positions including the Presidency from 2005 to 2008. I am currently the Vice-President for School and Student affairs.

Since leaving St. Marys I completed a first degree at UWI and a professional qualification as a Certified Accountant. My career has covered professional services (auditing, consultancy and private sector development) banking and industry (aviation and construction). The foundation that I received at the College prepared me for a wide range of challenges both here and abroad. In addition to the Union, my community involvement also includes a Directorship (as Treasurer) of the Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute.

Developing our young men is one of the most critical responsibilities in our society. St. Marys has a student intake made up of our Nation’s best and brightest, many of whom will go on to hold positions of leadership and responsibility. It is a privilege to be allowed to contribute in some small way to their development as a member of the Management Committee.