Well known businesswoman Helen Bhagwansingh, a pioneer in female ownership of business, has passed away at the age of 83 last Sunday evening. Reports say she was ailing for some time. Her husband Herbert died in 2019 at age 84.
Bhagwansingh Hardware is the largest of its kind in Trinidad. All Bhagwansingh outlets at Port of Spain, Chaguanas, Marabella and Trincity have been closed for mourning till after the funeral.
The below was extracted from AZP news of Mr Prior Beharry:
She was the eldest of four children and was followed by her siblings, Jack, Rajpaul and Betty all of whom were educated at Grant Memorial Presbyterian School in San Fernando.
In 2000, she was named “Woman of the Millennium” by the Energy Chamber at its annual awards dinner. Mrs. B, as she is popularly called, is an exemplar to her family, friends and her employees. She is bright, works exceptionally hard and keeps her promises.
Mrs. Bhagwansingh’s passions are her family and her business. Whilst she ensures that her businesses are conducted in accordance with sound commercial principles and business integrity, corporate social responsibility is equally important to her. With respect to her family, no sacrifice is too big for her to make. Indeed, it can be said that she lives for her family.
But she does have a weakness. She is like putty in the hands of her grandchildren. Every owner of a toy store should have a permanent sign saying “Welcome Mrs. B”. She is a bit tougher on her children but they are undoubtedly one of her major sources of strength and inspiration.
Her relationship with her husband Hubert is one to be admired. They have been married for 51 years. There is no doubt that he is her best friend, her business confidante and that she loves him even more today than fifty-one years ago.
He has been happy for her to take centre stage. They are a great pair. Every Christmas Mrs. B is surrounded by smiles as she lights up the roof of her home facing the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway.
Santa sits on Rudolph with a big smile, the rest of the reindeer gang illuminating her village for miles.
And over the hills of Laventille and the city of San Fernando, a bright star shines almost as brightly as the one that guided the wise men to the Christ child – all courtesy of Mrs. B.
Brave, courageous, passionate, magnanimous, problem solver, decision maker, communicator, risk taker, exemplar, role model, all of these are appropriate descriptions of Mrs. Helen Bhagwansingh.
The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce is indeed honoured to induct Mrs. Helen Bhagwansingh into the Business Hall of Fame on this November 24, 2010.
