When I heard the news of Kieron’s passing I was stunned and deeply saddened.
I truly cherished, often craved, his company and conversation. Kieron is what you call a beautiful mind.
In his case, it was the intersection of financial wizardly, legal brilliance and methodical humor, occasioned by a good dose of political incorrectness. My son Gaston only met him once or twice, but remembered his smile and his wit, and was distraught at the news. “The really cool guy from Ireland, that we met at the Fort Young? Oh no, oh no…. that is so sad…. “
My wife Sandra shared only one lunch with Kieron and so enjoyed his wit and wisdom that later the same day she asked, “When are we going to have lunch with him again?“ She cried at the news.
And they barely knew him.
When one interacted with Kieron, you got the sense that he had been contemplating for centuries whatever it was you were discussing with him. And more often than not, it would begin as a very specific topic – like corporate tax rates – and mushroom into a discussion about the merits of a flat tax regime and how it would restore integrity to the global economy. I never broached a subject with him that he had not given considerable thought to and held a strong opinion on, at times unexpected and often humorous. “Kieron, don’t you think our politicians should have term limits?” To which he replied, “No, not in the Caribbean. Good leaders are hard to find here, so when they get to power, let them stay a while.”
And he was dead serious, but his eyes were wide and smiling, because he knew he had thought about this a bit more and a bit deeper than you had, and that, at the very least, he gave you something else to think about. That was Kieron, an intellectual that earned his intelligence and opinions the old fashioned way – by thinking deeply about things – and a humorist that reveled in the lighter side. Deliberating and articulating is tough business, so we may as well enjoy it.
But there was also a certain discomfort, like the way he never fully settled into his chair, always gesturing, or the brief silences that spoke volumes. My sense was that he carried the burden of someone who felt somewhat misunderstood, if not betrayed, by society. His integrity and reputation stained by a serial and hateful speculator, his disappointment with a private sector and civil society that did not more forcefully come to his defense. So he did it all on his own, he fought the hatred and negativity all the way to the highest court, and won. He never gloated, never boasted, went back to the ordinary days of an extraordinary life. My last sighting of the man I admired was walking his granddaughter to school in Goodwill. A tall lanky figure, of good age, walking and holding the hand of a young girl coming of age. I drove by with a smile and pondered whether the great debate playing out in his mind had paused for a minute to enjoy the beautiful moments of simply being Granpa.
Kieron would not want us to be sad. He would want us to remember the time he made us laugh the most. For Sandra and I, it was that lunch when we asked him what he did to keep in such great shape.
“I crawl. That’s my exercise.”
“Crawl?” We were a bit perplexed.
“Yes, it’s the new fitness craze and its really great. I even got pads for my hands and knees.
“And where do you do this crawling, Kieron?”
“Oh, only at home. Inside. I’d be too embarrassed doing it outside. Can you imagine what they would say about me if they saw me on all fours crawling in the Botanical Gardens?”
I will miss you my friend, and will feel the deep and irreplaceable void left by your passing.
Gregor Nassief
I’m so glad that I took me granny advice. She told me don’t comment on the %#$ that go on in Dominica. Since then I’m minding my own darn beezmiss. Roll all you self.
Most people remember him for the fraudulent concrete at layou river hotel, that never got completed.
These large birds of prey with their head and neck bare of feathers, or hair; feeding chiefly on carrion and reputed to gather with the common yard foul in anticipation of the disadvantage of the country speaking the truth about their thieving conduct runs into the kangaroo court sue and get free money.
In this case such a contemptible person who also preys on; or exploits others in his employment will always chose to support others dead or alive.
I am not God, I do not pretend to be a god, but for many who have read comments I wrote on the saga and their rejoicing that Lennox lost the case and had to pay the deceased money may remember; I predicted (said) the dead man might not live long enough to enjoy that money!
Anybody remember that?
Gregor, you can paint a picture of that man in gold in the middle of the sky, that will not erase the evil he has done to Lennox!
Francisco
Greetings. You know that all of us here in Dominica except a few are daft i.e. downright stupid. You are the only person originating from Dominica who has a brain. Some brain eh!
That said, perhaps you can explain to us daft ones, take your time, remember we are daft, the exact act of evil which the deceased gentleman has done to your chosen one.
After you have done that, come let us reason together as the Scripture says.
I have said over and over on this site that one of these days, we will wake up and lament the monster of a society that we have created with our idle talk and nasty expressions of hate, jealously and anger. We are not far off.
When we begin to mock people in death, as if that state of non-existence has been carved out for a specific few, then I know we are facing the beginning of the end as a society.
Wish you all the best Francisco, whoever you are. May you and the likes of you live forever because there is a day of reckoning coming!!!
So; Barbara, I am not an English major; nevertheless, I know when people are using words wrong.
“Daft” I believe you have utilized it in the wrong way:
Someone could say to you; don’t ask me such a daft question; meaning don’t ask an absurd, or preposterous question.
Or, don’t asks me any ridiculous, ludicrous, farcical question, or a laughable risible question. The way you could have used that word to me and get away with it is if you said; ‘we were all daft about the dead crook,’ the one who sued Lennox.
Evil presents itself in different ways, even when it appears someone is seeking justice for a wrong they believe they suffered.
Say I Francisco; I’m a crook; a damn thief who was caught falsifying accounting matters (figures) and government suggest an audit of my accounting, and told me that I must audit myself; what would you Barbara expect?
So, an investigator caught my crooked behavior where I stole (thief), and disclose it:
Will finish later!
Continue:
So, someone caught me thieving and exposed my thieving, thievery, and spoke about it!
I the thief sue, and due to a technicality I gain a judgment against the man who told the truth about me a damn scoundrel and thief!
I use that opportunity to harass the man who for money he could not afford, what would I be?Wouldn’t you suggest I am evil:
Let me compound this by saying I would be a miserable wicked evil thief!
Francisco
“daft” meaning in the concise English Dictionary:
adjective – foolish, reckless, wild, crazy. I pick the first one as my meaning. No more discussion on that one as I try to stay within my sphere of competence. Don’t usually venture beyond that. A word to the wise right?
Secondly, the Privy Council Law Lords would have given us some good insight into who was evil in intention, articulation and action. I will go with them any day but suit yourself.
Thirdly,
I hope the investigator does not come with more nonsensical explanations of his signed MOU for campaign money as exposed by investigators from Al Jazeera. I’ve always heard every pig has its Saturday. That is at least one Saturday which came and went.
You will finish later but I AM FINISHED! Peaceful weekend to you, one filled with positive thoughts and prayers.
Which sound intellect……This man fooled people with his stature, he presented himself professionally and neatly in outlook. The guy had nothing much than one of our local professional could offer. I will not blame people without the intellectual capacity to consider Pinard Byne clever. It will take someone who is color blind to just cashblanc say he was smart. What we say, so will our family especially if all of our intellectual and mental capacity is below the acceptable level.
“May his dreams turn to dust” was the deceased wish for Honourable Lennox Linton. I remember that Gregor!
@ Toto that’s because you and others didn’t read my comment or did not understand what I said. You should have realized that I was mocking Gregor Nassief for having so much to say about Keron that is dead, yet, as a friend of Gregor and Skerrit they couldn’t use the so called wisdom Gregor said he had to advance the casue of Dominica. I was just making a mokery of Gregor who made a fool of himself with this tribute
Indeed a man of integrity and sound reputation. RIP.
Vultures of a feather flocked together to r.i.p (rest-in-pieces) duminica! Not surprised at this vulture’s commentary!!!
Both of them Skerrits friends. Nothing more to be added. Self explanatory what kind of people they are…!
For those who knew Kieron Pinard Byrne, Gregor Nassief’s piece is very much on point. He was a man of deep thought and sound intellectual analysis of subjects related to his professional field. I also appreciated his great sense of humour! We need to truly get to know an individual before casting judgement.
My condolences to his wife and family. RIP KPB.
When it is all said and done and the dust will be settled, the question our children and grandchildren will ask is, why we had such a wise man in Dominica and we never untilized him. Gregor should have told Skerrit that Kieron would have served bc Dominica much better than Charles Savarin and if he was qualified since maybe he didn’t serve as a public servant, then he should have been made a diplomat instead of Alireza Monfared that shamed us as or maybe in the place of Diezani Madueke, who is a wanted fugitive. So I think Mr. Nassief made a big mistake to not suggest his good friend to PM Skerrit, in the best interest of Dominica
Birds of a feather ripped off Dominica together. Thank you Mr $1 Minister!
Gregory is really evil
Speaking from both sides of his mouth.
Confused man. All in the name of money.
Brilliant Kieron eh! All of all you racist people sucking Dominica to a finish.
Death is for all. Gregor just needed to shut his trap!
Truth Be Told – You are so negative that u do not know the difference between Gregor Nassief and the $1 Minister who infact is his brother. Nice article Mr. Nassief. I read this twice and as you pointed out truly persons like him were misinterpreted but he was a great man. Our people here must learn to respect others. Truth Be Told what do you know of your country Dominica? What did u do for your country? It is Mr. Nassief (Gregor’s Father) who had DCP where so many employees did well. They did something for growing the economy. What you do but verbal hateful, rascist , jealousy, envious sputum. Kieron Pinard Byrne was a great auditor and incidentally had an audting firm. What have u done besides this sllly 13 worded expression above. Praying for you negative people thay you find love on your lonely way. Try seeking the love of the Most High Fathe Jehovah. By the way he sent his son for us all to deliver us from the slavery of evil minds and hearts.
Excellent commentary and tribute, Mr Nassief, and as was said by another, very much on point.
Thank you, sir.
RIP Mr. Pinard Byrne.
They then ruined the economy for their benefit. Guess you don’t know much about Dominica either.
Stupid comment.. You page it with hatred..
Hope you ate contributing to your country development .
Wasn’t that Yvor Nassief that was the $1 Minister?
Wow such a moving and touching tribute. Two of the things that touched me the most in this tribute is when Mr. Gregor Nassief said this:
“1. I truly cherished, often craved, his company and conversation. Kieron is what you call a beautiful mind.”
I didn’t know Mr. Pinard that well but judging by what Mr. Nassief said, I conclude the man had a lot of talent to help this country develop and maybe we did not tap into his wealth of talent as we should have.
2. My wife Sandra shared only one lunch with Kieron and so enjoyed his wit and wisdom that later the same day she asked, “When are we going to have lunch with him again?“ Wow!
They never introduced this great mind and talent to PM man? How could we be so blessed to have such a great mind around us and we never used him to help build the country? Why when PM was struggling to find a suitable replacement for President Liverpool I didn’t hear his name? Maybe Dominica would be like the US if he was made president instead of Chalo.
You saying you didn’t know the man that well but well enough to make comment like that. That sound creepy my friend. You better say nothing and let him and his family have peace and not bring politics in this.
Toto where is the politics? As I say we must respect others. Mr Byrne was a well respected man. Well stand up Irish man who married a sister of the Dominican soil. He contributed a lot to Dominica. Get to know your Island history. Before you comment – do some research. Then comment. Then u will appreciate the article Mr Gregor Nassief wrote. Respect others and do not just jump n a bandwagon. One may not know persons very well but observant persons will see what kind of person one is by the way they carry themselves. Whilst we do not always go to the home of some person, we mingle with them in various forums outside of the homes in a civil society – Boards/Clubs/seminars/Work related matters and many other ways. So please broaden your minds so u can see the bigger picture. Read the chapters again – notice the words Financial wizidary, wit, Smile, cool, intelligent, deep thinker etc. Where is the politics but in your shallow mind of everything is politics. Grow up
Haters please see my comment to Truth Be Told. Racists u all are but let me tell u – Jehovah loves us the same way – Red, Blue, Purple, Green, Coloured, Caucasian. He never encourages haters or evil mind (bad mind) The Son’s death was for Jews as well as Gentiles – us all over the worle. Who soever will may come. Respect, Respect Respect others as u would like to be respected! One love!
@ Evilzabeth, I have read so much of you Evil posted on this site and today you talking about Jesus and where people going? If you Evilzabeth going heaven then I guess all Dominicans going because your fruits on this site is very evil and is by the fruits Jesus said we shall know the plant.
I guess in the story of The Rich Man and Lazarus told by Jesus in Luke 16:19-32, the rich man must have received lovely tributes like this one from his friends, while Lazarus was hated. But that too would have changed nothing. Life is about what we do on Earth. Not the millions we hating people for, since we can’t carry them with us. Here is how the true message about life God wants all of us to remember as Abraham told the rich man:
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.
One day we all have to die this world is not our home do good to all me
Writing a tribute to a dead person? Well you might to read it to him because he can’t you. I hope you told him all these things when it really doesn’t matter
Mr. Nassief, Sir, thanks to you for sharing. I knew nothing about Mr. Kieron, except for what was posted on DNO, in the past; but I was moved by your words.
Just keep in mind that he has simply made a transition from the World of the physical into the World of the Spirit. It is just too bad that that the route of that transition is through the grave. But like Jesus or not, no one stays there eh!
Jesus paved the way to the other side for our sake. And whether we accept it or not death is conquered. So we can say: “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
There is Life–the Great Light in Love– on the other side of the grave for those who will accept it before they go there. I hope that Mr. Kieron is one of us. So hold on to his memory just as you knew him.
Those who don’t, accept this Life may be heading to a World of darkness to walk with a soul that is lost to the Light of God in Eternity–Good Lord!
Oh please man ripped our country apart,just like the Nassief’s and Astaphan’s do.They all have there days coming.God is always in control.
To my Dear Friend Gregor Nassief:
I know it’s a sad time for you. So since you are in mourning and I know you love this great song of Bob Marley, let your heart be comforted with part of this prophetic song “Natural Mystic:
There’s a natural mystic blowing through the air
If you listen carefully now you will hear
This could be the first trumpet, might as well be the last
Many more will have to suffer
Many more will have to die
Don’t ask me why
Things are not the way they used to be
I won’t tell no lie