Tribute to Harold Beckles - Delivered on behalf of Mr. Rushton Paray by Ms. Kaveeta Paray

( Video Runtime 5m)

I stand here this morning on behalf of my father, Rushton Paray, who deeply regrets not being able to speak to you himself. He has been under the weather for the past few days and has unfortunately lost his voice. But he said to me, “No matter how I sound, I have to honour Harold.” And so I’m here today, not just to speak on his behalf, but to carry forward the respect, admiration, and genuine affection he had for this remarkable man.

Harold Beckles was more than an employee at CTSL. He was part of the fabric of the company. He was part of our extended family.

My dad couldn’t recall the exact date Harold joined CTSL—it’s been that long. But the memories of Harold’s time with the company are vivid and full of character. He served as a Service Desk Analyst with distinction up until 2010.

He worked across various sites, from Port of Spain to Galeota Point, and no matter where you placed him, he made himself useful—he made himself indispensable.

Harold wasn’t loud or flashy. He didn’t walk into a room and demand attention. But over time, through his actions, his consistency, and his spirit, he earned everyone’s respect. He was one of those rare employees who quietly made the team stronger just by doing his job well and supporting others without being asked.

He had a genuine desire to learn and improve. My father recalls how Harold was always asking questions—not to show off, but because he really wanted to understand the systems, the tools, and the way things worked. That humility and drive made him grow quickly into a key member of the team. And he never got complacent—he kept that drive throughout his time with CTSL.

And then, of course, there was his voice.

One of the things that stood out to my dad—and to many customers—was Harold’s calm, steady tone. It didn’t matter how frustrated or confused the caller was, Harold had a way of calming the situation down with his voice alone.

It was smooth, composed, and reassuring. That quality brought a consistently high level of customer satisfaction to CTSL’s service desk. In a job that often deals with problems, Harold became the solution—because he understood that listening and empathy are as important as technical skills.

But Harold wasn’t just about work. He had a joyful, musical side that made him unforgettable. During the Christmas season, you could count on him to pull out his violin and start the parang. It was only later we found out that Harold was part of the legendary Lara Brothers parang family. It all made sense after that—music wasn’t just something he did, it was something he was.

He played with such feeling. You didn’t just hear it—you felt it. And when he performed, the whole room lit up. At staff parties, he didn’t just attend—he showed up with joy and left you with a memory. He was the kind of person who turned any event into something more special.

After Harold left CTSL in 2010, he didn’t disappear. In fact, in some ways, the bond deepened. He stayed in touch. He called former colleagues. He checked in. He reached out. And he made those spontaneous trips down to Mayaro with Reay Donawa to visit my dad.

Not for anything official—just to sit, talk, eat, laugh, and share space. That’s who Harold was. He showed up for people—not just in the workplace, but in life.

My father described Harold to me in four simple words: solid, loyal, honest, humble.

And I would add a fifth—beloved.

He brought calm to chaos. He brought rhythm to silence.

He helped build a better CTSL, and he helped brighten the lives of everyone who knew him.

Today, as we remember Harold, we also thank him.

Thank you for your service.

Thank you for your friendship.

Thank you for your music.

Thank you for the memories.

On behalf of my father, Rushton Paray, on behalf of our entire family, and on behalf of the CTSL family—many of whom are here today to pay their respects—we extend our deepest condolences to Harold’s loved ones. You shared a beautiful soul with us, and we are grateful.

We will miss him deeply.

But we will honour him by remembering him the way he would want us to—smiling, singing, and showing up for one another.

Rest well, Harold.

You did your part.

You gave us your best.

And we will always remember you.

FROM THE CTSL FAMILY!