Nowel 'Dadda' Tuitt
Nowel Henry ‘Dadda’ Tuitt of Bramble’s Village, Montserrat, was born on 10th October 1936 and passed from this life on January 10, 2011 at the Golden Years Home in Montserrat.
He had lived abroad for some time, returned to Montserrat and became the Hon. Nowel Tuitt in 1978 and served as a Minister of Government from then until October, 1991 in the John Osborne People’s Liberation Movement (PLM) party. He was again elected to parliament, the sole successful PLM candidate and later served again as a Minister from 1994-96 in the Reuben Meade’s National Progressive Party (NPP). He was elected and served as a legislator for 18 years from 1978 – 1996, in third place to John Osborne (43 yrs) and David Brandt (26 yrs). He contested the elections one more time in 1996 but lost miserably, and immediately migrated. He returned to Montserrat last year.
The Hon. Tuitt is survived by his wife, Ingrid, and eight children, four of whom – Nicholas, Nicola, Nolanda and Novella, travelled to Montserrat to say goodbye at his burial on Thursday, January 27, 2010.
He was referred to at his burial as “a true Montserratian and one of Montserrat’s favourite sons.” His campaign slogan was, “Vote for the man who cares for you.” It was said that he got the nickname “Mr Cheap”, not as the term is readily understood, but because, “he made it easier and cheaper for the people of the surrounding area, to acquire essential supplies, and sold reasonably priced goods at his grocerty stored in Bramble’s Village, which today is very much a part of the exclusion zone by Soufriere Hills volcano.
Such was his concern for the people in his constituency, among the other opportunities he created for the people, it said in his eulogy, “…was interested in agriculture and he thus utilised a plot of land across from his house to plant tomatoes, sweet potatoes and peanuts. He hired some of the residents of Bramble’s Village and Tuitt’s Village to work on his farm making it possible for them to improve their financial circumstances, reducing their reliance on hand-outs.”
One of his children said of their dad: ““We know Dad was known mainly for two things, politics and religion. To us he was simply Dad. A dad who loved to play, joke and teach us about the bible. One prominent thing we will always remember from our Bible teaching…”
The family at the end said: “Our family wish to publicly thank those persons who looked out for his spiritual and physical welfare during his time of need. Such persons include Pastor Peter Buffonge, Ingrid Bramford and the management and staff of the Golden Years Home.”
The Home going funeral service for Nowell Henry “Dadda” Tuitt, was held at the Faith Tabernacle Pentecostal Church in Brades, and interred at Cavalla Hill Church cemetery.
