The daughter of former head of the public service Reginald Dumas is calling for a scholarship in leadership and diplomacy to be established in her father’s name.

Sonja Dumas made the call while speaking at her father’s funeral on Friday at the All Saints Anglican Church, Queen’s Park West, Port of Spain. Dumas, who was also a former diplomat and Newsday columnist, died at the Scarborough General Hospital, Tobago, on March 7.

Dumas, 88, died days after undergoing a major surgery for a gastrointestinal condition.

Speaking at his funeral, Sonja Dumas said he always insisted on the value of education. She said he never sought personal praise in spite of his accomplishments even telling her years ago he did not want a eulogy at his funeral.

“He avoided national awards for various reasons, and when I reflect on that at this time, perhaps it was because he is a national award. A person whose wisdom is a gift to the people and whose counsel is a prize.” Sonja Dumas said, given his personal beliefs and values, his memory might be best honoured through a scholarship.

“One thing that he has always instilled in me, as his mother, my grandmother, instilled in him was the value of education. Imparted correctly knowledge, is both an empowering and liberating population.”

“So as some people have suggested in the past two weeks, perhaps a Reggie Dumas scholarship in leadership, diplomacy and or governance could be established at one our tertiary level institutions.” She said he would love that “enduring legacy of learning and stewardship.”

She also revealed plans to collaborate with an institution to curate his work and share it with the world.

“A few months ago we visited with representatives of a national institution in Port of Spain which was were eager to acquire his body of work. I will revisit these talks and I hope to embark on the monumental task of curating his work with a view to sharing it with wider local, regional and international communities so that it will be available to this generation and to generations to come.”

Sonja described Dumas as her “steadfast champion” and “biggest hero” adding though that he was many things to many people. She said since his death, many people had contacted the family to offer condolences.

“So very many people have remembered him in some very many glowing ways as they recounted his life, his accomplishments and most of all his impact on them personally and on the wider society.”

Describing her father’s life as “a beacon for many” she said if anything, they were the ones who needed consoling.

“The Dumas family grieves now and people offer us consoling words but we in turn also feel the need to console them because of the great loss that they have also felt with his passing. That for me is a clear indication that it is not just we, the family, who are mourning, but many sectors of our society.”

She spoke about a recent tribute to Dumas which gave some insight into his willingness to impart knowledge and educate anyone willing to learn. “One person recently jok