by Linda Straker
- Preudhommes celebrated 65 years of marriage in October 2019
- Joyce Preudhomme died Thursday, 26 December 2019
- Herbert Preudhomme passed away days before his 90th birthday
8 days after his wife Joyce passed away in the USA on Thursday, 26 December 2019 at the age of 84, Herbert John Preudhomme, a former member of parliament and the Deputy Prime Minister to the late Sir Eric Matthew Gairy, has died.
Preudhomme who was ailing for some time, died on Thursday, 2 January 2020 at the age of 89, six days before his 90th birthday.
The couple who lived in the USA, recently celebrated 65 years of marriage in October 2019.
Preudhomme, affectionately called “Uncle Pre” represented the St John constituency for the Grenada United Labour Party (GULP) from 1961 to 1979. Before his advent into politics, he was employed in his family business after leaving school and later joined the firm of Jonas Browne & Hubbard Ltd from 1956 to 1958.
According to the website gogouyave.com, Preudhomme got his feet wet into elective politics in 1958 when he was elected to serve as a member of the opposition. He served from 1958 to 1960 during which time he was also member of the Tourist Board and member of Housing and Planning Authority.
In the general election of 1961, he ran for the St John’s Constituency, easily defeating John DeCoteau of the Grenada National Party (GNP) and was appointed Minister for Commerce, Industry and Tourism.
In the elections of 1962, he narrowly lost to Mc Donald Welsh of the GNP by 41 votes but reclaimed the constituency seat in parliament in 1967 by defeating Mc Donald Welsh by 906 votes. He then was appointed Minister for Local Government, Housing, Labour, Youth Development and Sports.
In 1972 he was re-elected to parliament for St John defeating Johnny Branch of the GNP and he was appointed Minister of Communications, Works, and Labour. After Grenada gained independence, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister.
In the 1976 elections, he was again re-elected to parliament by defeating Lloyd Noel by 446 votes. He was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Housing.
After the 13 March 1979 Revolution he was, like most ministers, detained without charge from until 31 December 1981. After his release, he went into private business.
However, after democracy governance was restored to the island following the collapse of the revolution, he contested the 1984, 1990, 1995 and the 2003 general elections for either the constituency of St John or the Town of St George as a member of the GULP and was defeated each time.
He migrated to the USA to be near his family and to enjoy his retirement. The couple is survived by four children along with their grand and great-grandchildren.
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My condolences to my family history first starting with Lenard called (Lenny) Preudhomme who is my grandfather from Grenada a veterinarian. Lenny Preudhomme had a sister in England a nurse at the time. Lenny had brothers in Grenada came from England. During 1929 My mother Joyce Retilda Preudhomme was born of Lenard Preudhomme in Grenada almost same time Herbert Preudhomme was born. So Herbert Preudhomme dad is one of Lenard’s brothers. Herbert Preudhomme has left back a long line of wonderful family who I am proud to be part of today. Therefore, Herbert and Joyce Retilda Preudhomme were first cousin. (My mother) My name is Kenneth Kong Ching.
My mother’s name is also Joyce Retilda Preudhomme change name to Joyce Kong Ching when she married my dad Chock Kong Ching in Trinidad . I am her son Kenneth Kong Ching 8 child, together with my 9 brothers and sisters total 5 girls 4boys Grace, Davis, Francis Rodney Preudhomme including 5 from Kong Ching join together as one family. Now we live in Winnipeg, Canada and Ottawa with 1 brother in Trinidad Rodney Preudhomme. Herbert Preudhomme was in contact with my mother Joyce Retilda Kong Ching formerly (Preudhomme) who was believe to be first cousins. Herbert he use to ship goods into Trinidad to my mother to help out our family. Herbert Preudhomme are almost same age as my mother Joyce Retilda Kong Ching (Preudhomme) they spoke over the phone a lot . So it was a long history line which I search . Also, my sister Grace Preudhomme my oldest sister visited Herbert Preudhomme in Grenada when she went back over 20 years ago. Grace Preudhomme my sister grew up in Grenada with my mom before moving to Trinidad with her 3 brothers Preudhomme’s. Herbert Preudhomme May he Rest In Peace, Jesus blessings. “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12
Sad News of Death, My Condolences to his Families & Friends of Former PM of Sr.Eric Matthew Gary
Condolences to the family of Joyce and Herbert Preudhomme. May they be blessed with eternal peace.