One of the United Democratic Party’s finest passed away on Saturday in his hometown of Dangriga. Russell “Chiste” Garcia died at 11 on Saturday Morning after ailing from kidney failure. “Chiste” or “Baba” as he was affectionately known had been a long serving member of the United Democratic Party having been elected as the Area Representative for the Dangriga Constituency. He was sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives on June 30, 1993 under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Manuel Esquivel.
During the 1993 General Elections, Chiste received 1489 votes or 56.4% of the votes cast. He handed Dr. Theodore
Aranda his first defeat in politics. An agronomist and farmer, Garcia was sworn in as Minister of Agriculture. As Minister of Agiculture, “Chiste” pushed the agricultural agenda like no other minister before him. He was instrumental in ensuring that Lynam College, at the time a prison, be reopened as an agricultural school.
In 1998 Garcia lost at the polls and retired from active politics for a short while only as he made a comeback at the polls in 2006 securing a seat as councilor in Dangriga Town.
Russell “Chiste” Garcia was born on December 16, 1950 to his parents Gwendolyn Trapp and Alejandro Garcia. He leaves behind his wife Florence Sabal Garcia, brother, Allan Felix; sisters, Myrtle Palacio and Jackie Felix Farmarou; daughters: Carla Garcia, Elizabeth Underwood, Wanni, Tiffany, Gwen, Iris, Isien, and Imani Garica; Sons: Cautious and Chatuye Garcia and twelve grandchildren. He will be laid to rest at Sacred Heart Church in Dangriga on Wednesday December 23. The body will lie in state from 12 noon for funeral services at 1pm.
The United Democratic Party extends its deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family of a true and loyal supporter.
