The architect behind the iconic Tobago Blue Food Festival, George Stanley Beard, passed away last evening, leaving behind a legacy woven into the cultural fabric of Tobago. Former Tobago House of Assembly member Gerald MacFarlane reflected on Mr. Beard’s life and shared memories of their time together in the Assembly, recalling his vision, dedication, and enduring impact.
“Stanley was really the live wire behind the blue food festival and before that it was the Heritage Festival. Now around that time we both were in the Assembly together and we worked under Dr. J. D. Elder, a phenomenal historian and cultural impresario, if you want to call it that. But we all three of us were members of the Assembly at the time.”
Mr. MacFarlane observed that it was Mr. Beard’s distinctive blend of leadership and character that brought his vision of a Tobagonian heritage festival to life. With a steady hand and an instinct for people, he guided the idea from imagination to celebration, transforming it into a living tribute to the island’s culture.
“The kind of leadership skills that he had, he never really turn down people or put people down, you know, and in those days we just had to respect each other in the Assembly. I mean this was one of the key things with Robinson as chairman of the THA then. You know, we just had to show respect not only his colleagues in the Assembly but show respect to the community and that was why it was so easy for him putting a team together to work on the Tobago Heritage Festival.”