Dear Editor,
It will be remiss of me not to pay tribute to Rastaman Kentae, who was not only a friend of mine but a bonefide friend of my family.
To this day, I am still in disbelief that Kentae is no longer with us. By a twinkle of an eye, our vibrant Kentae is gone. It is evident that death is real & clearly death does not choose who to devour….
Interestingly, when I got the news, which was on the very same morning Kentae died, it just did not appear to be real. The WhatsApp message I received, was just a photo of him with a brief caption ” RIP KENTAE “. I must admit, the caption baffled me. I knew at that moment I was not intoxicated, neither was I experiencing any other form of illusion. As a result, to appease my curiosity, I immediately sought verification.
The affirmation of Kentae’s death instantly forced me into solitude, which I subsequently began to reminisce on him as a friend and the times we had spent together.
My first encounter with Kentae was when he approached me some years ago in the King George V grounds to enlighten me about my son as been a very skillful football player. From then, we became close friends. Whenever we met, we exchanged our pleasantries and had our brief conversations. A bond was subsequently created between us.
His former girlfriend Karen, was my wife’s best friend and my daughter’s Godmother. Because of that relationship, it drew him closer to us..
Two years ago, after Karen died, filled with emotions, he brought to my attention that he was extremely impressed and touched with a poem that my daughter wrote while in Cuba, as a tribute to her Godmother.
Later on he became even more ecstatic after he heard that the very same God daughter graduated as a medical doctor and hence everytime we crossed paths, our conversation always ended with him asking what about the Doc? I then realized he was a very caring person & perhaps considered us as an extended family.
Karen’s death left a void within him but strange enough, he avoided showing such emotions of emptiness. He continued to live his life and used his friends & his radio program as a distraction from her death.
In my view Kentae was a unique individual.. He was a very respectful & caring person. He enjoyed seeing excellence & achievements. His neatly attired dress mode clearly demonstrated that he was a very confident person. Some may think that he was boast. Others thought it was a bait he used to attract women. Kentae was jovial & a very frank person. He will not hesitate to tell you as he sees it. Neither would he be reluctant to debate on any controversial topics that involved sports or politics.
His political talk shows were interesting and his arguments were very logical. Although he was a grassroots person, he expressed himself eloquently, with a good command of the English language. Interestingly, a show would never end unless he first shouted out his two daughters, his sisters, and a long list of friends & other family members throughout the length & breadth of Antigua & the diaspora.
Amazingly, Kentae was like a nomad. He moved from village to village in quick time to watch a football game & other sporting matches. Sometimes I wondered how he did it. He would be at the King George grounds now watching a match then shortly after he would be seen perhaps in John Hughes watching another game and then somewhere else thereafter. Kentae was just full of energy.
There is no doubt Kentae had friends in every village of Antigua including the US & the US VI. He bore no animosity with anyone regardless of one’s political allegiance or the opposing team you support. However, you can be assured he would challenge you in a debate.
Sadly, Kentae has left us. He has certainly gone too soon. Many questions are left to be asked but God has the answers and knows best. Perhaps his mission on this earth was completed. His death has left a void that will never be filled. RIP Kentae, you are gone but you will definitely not be forgotten!!
Fitzroy
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We morn today and remain as wicked as ever tomorrow!!!!
Rip Cuz you will surely be missed x
Rest in Peace Kentae!
Your legacy will live on in the hearts of many of us.
It’s a pity he didn’t live to see the big change this country deserve, one day as sure as the SUN will raise this Government will fall the hand writing us on the wall and then Antigua 🇦🇬 will raise.
Well said Fitzroy, that was Kentae indee in your article.
Kentae, once you met him, and got to know him, you would never forget him. I met him whilst he was going through the most intense grief. Andrea had just died and he never failed to speak on their abiding love for each other.
Even though our aquaintanceship was just in passing, each time we crossed paths, the last time being at the funeral of Wayne Harris, there was always the smile and respectful hello. The last time I saw him it was from a distance and he did not see me – this was the day before he died. The following morning when a mutual friend told me of his passing I was filled with utter shock and disbelief. It gave me a grave reminder that this minute we are here and the next we are gone.
My condolences to the entire Semper family, all of his friends, co-workers and his sports fraternity. My consolation is that he has now joined his soulmate Andrea, and may they both Rest in Eternal Peace.
If you don’t know Kentae well and you hear him speak you are likely to draw negative conclusions of him. There is a thin line between healthy pride – something one ought to be able to express freely when appropriate, and boastful or bragging, which is something most people find objectionable in themselves and others.
Boasting is talking in a self-admiring way or glorifying oneself. We tend to think of people who boast as arrogant.
Pride on the other hand is a feeling of self respect and personal worth and a feeling of satisfaction with one’s own achievements. Most people would agree that pride is a vital part of an individuals sense of self and an important component of healthy, positive self esteem.
Rastaman Kentae was a man full of pride and glamour and he very often expresses this pride in others and whatever he does. He gives 100 percent of himself in whatever he does and he expects the same from everyone else whether it is on the football field, in council meetings, on the job or on the political hustling.
And even when he differs politically or otherwise with anyone, he holds no malice towards them and respect their right to be different.
He was an extremely fierce competitor and he only accept failure when 100 percent effort is given.
He befriended people everywhere and even on social media, he was vibrant, active, instructive and at times humorous.
Truly a wonderful human being he was and we are all gonna miss him dearly. Rest in peace brethren.
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