The death is announced of Ambassador Sydney Victor Saul AA which took place in Oakland, California, USA.
He was the son of the late Joseph Alphonso and Pearl Virginia Saul
Husband of Nancy
Father of Kassim and Naledi
Father-in-law of Dr. Matthew Brockwell
Grandfather of Athena
Brother of Grace, Kelly, the late Daphne, Duncan, Hutton and Dr. Slater Saul
Brother-in-law of Delores, Wynell, Vevion, Annie, Malcolm Giles and the late Dr. Gordon Baird
Uncle of Jackie, Kelvin, Daniela, Duncan, Slater, Patricia, Julian, Anika, Andre, Shaun, Andrew, Ian, Saluka and others
Relative of Justices Claudette Singh and Yonnette Cummings, the D’Aguiars, Bazilios, Ramalhos, Harts, Hamiltons, Whites, Semples, Ross’, Claude Saul, Hugh Saul and others. The late Fred Wills, Brigadier Edward Collins and others.
Friend of Byrn Pollard, Eusi Kwayana, Rashleigh Jackson, Vic Persaud, Elizabeth Harper, Sheila George, Duncan Clarke, Rudy Insanally, PS Tiwari, Joe Lambert, Rudy Collins, Ron Austin, Jailall Kissoon, Justice Donald Trotman, Hamilton Green, Rex McKay, Jason Martin, Cheryl Miles, Dr. Barton Scotland, Carl Greenidge and many others.
Consummately interested in the world, its peoples and politics, Ambassador Saul’s primary and secondary education began in Guyana and continued in the USA at the tertiary level. He received his undergraduate degree from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he met his future wife, Nancy Holmes. They both studied and received graduate degrees from New York University and their union lasted 50 years.
Professionally, Ambassador Saul came of age during a time of historic transformation for his homeland. It was his singular honour and privilege to serve the newly independent Guyana and her people in a Foreign Service career that spanned 30 years.
He began that service in mid-1960 as an Information officer for the British Guiana Information Office in New York and at the behest of the late President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, he was instrumental in establishing Guyana’s Diplomatic Offices in the USA, having been officially seconded to the Embassies of Canada, India and New Zealand for that specific purpose.
He went on to serve in multiple roles in the Diplomatic Service including First Secretary in Guyana’s embassy in Washington, DC, USA, under the then Ambassador Sir John Carter, Consul General of Guyana in New York, Ambassador in the Embassy of Guyana to Suriname, and High Commissioner Designate to Nigeria. He also acted as Permanent Secretary (Director General) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and retired in 1989.
In recognition of his sterling contribution, he was awarded National Honours of both the Distinguished Medal of Service and the Golden Arrow of Achievement.
Ambassador Saul cherished the company of good friends and family, classical music, and a penchant for international affairs. His was a life of relationships which he lived to the fullest. He was the consummate family man, to his immediate, extended, and Foreign Service family. This in addition to being essentially people oriented.
Ambassador Saul is pre-deceased by his parents, Joseph Alphonso and Pearl Virginia Saul, his sister Daphne Giles, his brothers Dr. Slater Saul, Duncan Saul and Hutton Saul as well as his brother-in-law Dr. Gordon Baird.
Ambassador Saul’s memory will always be cherished by his loving wife Nancy, his son Kassim and daughter Naledi, his son-in-law Dr. Matthew Brockwell, his granddaughter Athena, his sister Grace Baird, his brother Kelly Saul, his brother-in-law Malcolm Giles and a host of dear relatives and friends.
A memorial service was held in Long Island, New York, USA, at which tributes were given both by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Guyana’s Consul General in New York inter alia. The obituary was deliverd by his brother Kelly Saul.
“To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die.”
May his soul Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory.
