Port-of-Spain: Former Minister of Trade and Industry under the PNM Government, Ken Valley has died, following a three year battle with cancer.
Valley died at his Glencoe home at 3.20 this morning, plunging the party and the country into mourning. The PNM's flag flew at half mast all day in recognition of his death.
Valley served the country as Ministerof Local Government, Minister of Trade and Industry, Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Leader of Government Business in the House of Representatives, Opposition Chief Whip, Deputy PNM Political Leader and Member of Parliament for Diego Martin Central.
He first won his seat in a bye-election in 1990 following the killing of the Diego Martin Central MP, Leo De Vignes during the attempted coup. He successfully defended his seat in the 1991 general elections and maintained it until 2007 when he was rejected as a candidate by the then PNM political leader, Patrick Manning.
One year later he fell ill with an aggressive form of colon cancer which eventually led to his death.
Politicians from both sides of the political divide have paid tribute to Valley. Prime Minister Patrick Manning described him as a diligent person and has asked her office to contact the family with a view towards assisting in funeral expenses. PNM chairman Franklyn Khan says Valley was instrumental in diversifying the country away from energy and was pivital in several trade agreements between this country and Latin America.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Wade Mark described him as a "giant" and said he had contributed immensely to the working of the Parliament.
Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
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