Charlestown, Nevis
January 27, 2008
“To my knowledge, he was one of the founding members of the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) in fact I remember in 1970 he took me to one of their meetings. He was passionate about politics. He was even more passionate about his love for Nevis. He was a local councillor for the St.Thomas Parish. He was a good man, he was a religious man; may his soul rest in peace”, said Premier of Nevis, Hon. Joseph Parry, issuing a statement on the passing of Eustace Nisbett to the Nevis News Cast (NNC) on Tuesday, January 22, 2008.
Accolades and reminiscing on the life of the NRP stalwart and Nevisian icon, Mr. Eustace “Tessy” Nisbett, poured into Thursday night’s very popular radio program “Tell Me” on Choice FM.
Tessy, as he was known by all who knew him was born in 1945 in the village of Cotton Ground. He had been ailing for a number of years and the good Lord took him home on Monday night January 21, 2008.
“He will be remembered as a man who had a great love of people and of Nevis,” said radio show host Mr. Hastings Daniel who co- hosted the program with Miss Pat Claxton and special guest, Mrs. Muriel St. Jean, sister of Tessy Nisbett. “I am not sad and I don’t feel too bad because I had the opportunity to spend those last few moments with my brother Tessy and I know he is in a better place”, said Muriel.
The sterling contributions made by Tessy were numerous. He was into preserving Nevisian culture; he was also a Sports enthusiast and a Social Activist. In the 1970’s, during some civil unrest, Tessy was the only Nevisian put in jail by the then Premier of St.Kitts- Nevis, Hon. Robert Bradshaw for Civil disobedience. “I remember him telling me that the jail cell was full of human bowel movement and there was no bed and he had to sleep on the floor among the dirt and filth. Although they tried to break him they did not succeed,” said Advisor to the Premier, Mr. Llewellyn Parris.
Mr. Nisbett was a deeply religious man. He was a local preacher in Nevis and Tortola. In his later years he became an Evangelist, whose passion was to expand and upgrade the Clifton Methodist Church.
The funeral of the late Tessy Nisbett will be held on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at the Charlestown Methodist Church at 3p.m.
Anyone who is interested in donating to the church in Tessy Nisbett’s memory, are welcomed to do so by contacting Mrs. Muriel St. Jean at 869 665 2535.