Harold Dabydeen
Deputy Mayor of the Town of New Amsterdam, Harold Dabydeen died suddenly on Friday evening at the New Amsterdam Hospital. He reportedly suffered a heart attack.
Dabydeen, 65, lived alone at King Street New Amsterdam. He served in the municipality since 1994 and was reportedly at work Friday morning when he spearheaded the clearing of the Municipal Dump Site at Esplanade Road.
In the afternoon he complained of feeling unwell and of a pain in his chest.
He was taken to the hospital where he was admitted and given emergency treatment. His blood sugar level was said to be high.
Dabydeen who has been a councilor since the last local government elections was held in 1994 was serving his second stint as Deputy Mayor. He first served as Deputy Mayor under former Mayor Errol Alphonso from 1994 to 1995. He again became Deputy Mayor in 2011 upon the death of then Deputy Mayor Hyacinth James.
Dabydeen also served on numerous occasions as acting Mayor in the absence of Mayor Claude Henry.
He was also remembered for his many clashes with the various Local Government Ministers in the previous administration.
A post mortem examination is expected to be performed on the body shortly.