In remembrance of Mr Kirkland Nixon QFSM IDSA

In remembrance of Mr. Kirkland Nixon, QFSM, IDSA, MBE, JP Founding Director Public Service Pensions Board

TRIBUTE TO KIRKLAND NIXON A LIFE OF PURPOSE AND MEANING And Mr. Nixon said; “To serve my country is an honourable thing. ” So began our piece on Kirkland Nixon, MBE, QFSM, JP; when he was featured in our last Newsletter as our Pensioner Profile. Of course, we could not have known that we would be here today to honour his life. We are indeed grateful that we got the opportunity to dedicate the spot to him during his lifetime; as too often we think we have enough time. I briefly recall that after completing this piece on him, we sent it to him for his response, and with his usual quick wit, he responded: “Thanks for sharing; your capture of our brief discussion is most impressive. It does profile a man named Kirkland Nixon of George Town, job well done”. “There is nothing special about me”, he had responded to the question of what made his civil service career successful. But there was. To those of us gathered here though, very few, if any, would deny that, Kirkland Nixon was an extraordinary man. It would be quite easy for me to summarize his life with these few words and leave it there. But those are mere contours that define the boundaries of a life of substance, worth, service, dedication and unmatched commitment. As we reflect on his life, there is no doubt that for all of us here, his service to country will loom large. As for those of us at PSPB, we will focus on him being a founding member of our Board of Directors and reflect on his enormous contributions to the development of the authority.

Mr. Kirkland Nixon was a faithful and devoted member of the PSPB’s Board of Directors from the beginning of this noble institution and continued to serve until the time of his passing on 30 April 2018. The 2000 pensioners and 8000 other members were privileged to have had the consistency over the past quarter of a century, of someone of Mr. Nixon’s calibre representing their interests, as he passionately reminded us that those he represented were “the legal owners”. Whenever Mr. Nixon spoke he was listened to, not only because of his booming voice but for what he said, which always moved our thinking on, but also for the way he said it, without bluster, but with immense authority. There was no task which he found impossible as he brought his typical characteristics of being purposeful and resolute to every meeting he attended. He was undaunted by anything or anyone and an ever present member at our meetings. In fact, of our total 172 board meetings Mr. Nixon attended 161. Mr. Nixon also served on all the committees of the Board save and except the Audit Committee. The Investment Committee in particular benefited from his wisdom and he only missed 5 of the 79 meetings held, since his appointment. It is noteworthy that Mr. Nixon’s absence from the Board meetings and Investment Committee meetings was during the time of his earlier illness.

We at the PSPB share some special and fond memories with him. He attended every function we ever hosted and at our last dinner event on January 10 th, the night before he was first admitted to hospital, he was with us. We are immensely blessed because Kirkland Nixon served us, and though we naturally feel that he is gone way too soon, and that he had much more to offer; he was certainly with us long enough to have left a lasting legacy of respect, courage, leadership, and love for his fellowman and his country. As Managing Director, I feel a deep sense of gratitude for having known this giant of a man, not only in stature but in character. He was a good and decent man. May his soul rest in peace and may we all learn from the legacy that this great man has left behind. As one former Board Director so aptly put it, “As he transitions from this life to the heavenly one, we can be sure of this one thing. None like Kirkland Nixon will ever pass our way again. ” Jewel Evans Lindsey, Managing Director On Behalf of the Public Service Pensions Board

In remembrance of Mr. Kirkland Nixon, QFSM, IDSA, MBE, JP Founding Director Public service pensions board