Former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday and former head of the Public Service Reginald Dumas have paid tribute to a former head of the Public Service, Ainsley Tim Pow, who died on Saturday after a brief illness. Tim Pow’s funeral mass takes place today at St Joseph's RC Church, St Joseph, at 9 am, followed by a private interment. Tim Pow, 76, served as head of the Public Service from 1995-2001 under the Panday administration.
He was a former St Mary’s College student who entered the Public Service in 1954 and worked in different positions, including administrative officer in the Prime Minister’s Office. His appointment as permanent secretary to the Prime Minister and head of the Public Service was made in 1994 under then prime minister Patrick Manning and he went on to work under Panday who succeeded Manning in 1995.
Tim Pow was awarded the Chaconia Medal, Gold, in 1997 and retired that same year. In 2010, he was honoured by the Ministry of Public Administration and two years later by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. After retiring he worked in the private sector and was chairman of Amoco Energy Corporation.
In extending condolences, Panday said Tim Pow was “an extremely competent and capable officer.” He said he had “an extremely good relationship with Tim Pow and would remember him for his competence.” Dumas said Tim Pow was “an old friend and a very decent and amenable person who was familiar with the ins-and-outs of the public service.” Dumas said Tim Pow was a hard worker who loved fishing. “He was dedicated to his job and did it well. He will be missed,” Dumas added.