Raffick Abasali was a man whose life was a testament to the power of an unwavering spirit and a boundless heart. The roots of his life were planted in humble soil, and from there, he grew into the man we admire—a powerful story of perseverance and love.
He built a life defined by hard work and heart. His story is a beautiful reminder that where you start never determines how far your love and determination can take you.
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| Raffick Abasali |
Raffick Abasali was born on the 3rd of September, 1923, in Bonasse Village in Cedros, the southwest tip of Trinidad.
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| Raffick's mother, Susan |
The times he grew up in were a time of hardship. There was no running water; such folks had to walk miles to a standpipe to bring buckets of water home to cook with, clean dishes, and bathe. There was no electricity in his home either. He attended school without much means.
But these hardships did not break him; they forged within him a quiet strength and a fierce determination that would guide him for the rest of his days. This courage propelled him forward, first through his local elementary school, Cedros Primary School in Bonasse Village, where he excelled.
Some time later, as he was becoming an adult, he moved to Arima and began a new chapter in his life.
He then married Zorida Dulcina (Doll) Arjoon, the true helpmate of his soul.
Together, they built a life and a family of eight (8) children.
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Their children comprised four (4) girls and four (4) boys: Shepheran (Moyin), Mirza (Zac), Liaquat (Licky), Kazim, Asheera, Camille, and the twins Asha (Narda) and Ashraf (Bobby).
Abasali family
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| Raffick's nephews, Melvin and Sherman, from Venezuela, lived at home for many years |
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| Raffick's nephew. Carlos Mathura lived at home for a while |
Their home was always a place of refuge, a sanctuary not just for their own children, but for a whole host of extended family members who were welcomed with open arms.
Raffick pursued life each step of the way with the same grace and humility with which he began.
He got a job at the American Base in Wallerfield. He made the most of this opportunity for employment, as many poor children often do. He learned electricity, which he later put to good use in his home life.
He lived at different locations in and around Arima. Such locations included Guanapo, Nettoville, De Verteuil St., and ultimately Providence Circular.
He took his children walking around their hometown to the rivers when they were younger.
Raffick applied thereafter at British West Indies Airways (BWIA), formerly British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC). Finally, at this local airline, he became a Director of Planning & Engineering.
His journey was a living, breathing example of his own personal philosophy—a heartfelt piece of poetry which he created: "Always remember these virtues: Think Deeply, Speak Gently, Love Much, Laugh Often, Work Hard, Give Freely, Pay Promptly, Pray Earnestly, And Be Kind." This 'to the point' piece of poetry, he printed and gave out freely. These were not just words; they were the very fabric of his being!
He had a deep belief in the power of faith and positive thinking, and he loved to share that optimism with others, often gifting inspirational books.
He always had a curated set of inspirational and self-improvement books on hand to give to friends and family. Such books as Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People," "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living," and Norman Vincent Peale's book, "The Power of Positive Thinking."
Such books touched his humble life. The evidence can be seen when you examine his simple life of achievement, with the help of God.
He was able to build for himself, with God's help, the kind of life he envisioned by using the steadfast practice of faith and prayer. He persisted!
He grew to possess an optimistic thought pattern. His courage and confidence moved him forward as he sought to assist all around him. He was a man who lived to give. He was so much more than a provider; he was a builder of community.
His friends and family came from near and far to seek his advice on different matters. His track record of simple living was his own life, for he sought to live as a plain, comfortable, and resourceful person.
Others looked up to him as someone with a reassuring, pleasing personality. He was able to draw other simple-minded people to him for his help and guidance.
He was very charitable, and it became a hallmark of his life. Raffick and his wife echoed this saying frequently to their children, "Charity (love) begins at home."
He erected a home (which was constructed by a building contractor of note at the time, Martin Looby), with over an acre of land surrounding it, to cater to his extended family members. For he also had many other brothers and sisters.
He grew up to love the comfort that family and community afforded him. He felt rich having other family members around him despite the poverty in his childhood.
Raffick stayed close to his youthful friends from Cedros. Mervyn Dynally, who became Lieutenant-Governor of California, was one such friend. He also served as a Senator and Congressman in the state.
Although they lived on different shores, the bond of childhood friends remained. Raffick would visit him in California, and when Mervyn came to Trinidad, Raffick picked him up at the airport, and Mervyn overnighted in Arima before proceeding to Cedros.
His other very close youthful friends from Cedros were affectionately called "The Clique".
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| Leo & Doll Ramchand, Raffick & Zorida Abasali, Knolly & Gilda Chung |
They were Leo and Doll Ramchand, Knolly and Gilda Chung. They became lifelong friends. The children of these families live like close family members to this day.
He took care of many other family members at his home. He helped them off to a good start in life. They stayed for an extended period of time. They became one family.
Apart from taking care of nephews, there was an elderly lady from Cedros whom he took care of, too. Everyone referred to her as "Granny".
And to feel fed always, he grew orchards of different fruit trees. He planted every tropical fruit tree imaginable on the land enclosing their home.
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| Abasali family home |
The 'Julie mangoes' were a favorite among our family and friends, as everyone remembers.
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| The mango Julie orchard |
There were also coconut trees planted at the edge of the lower field.
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| Raffick's grandchildren are enjoying the fruits of his labor |
Mrs. Ursula Mapp Bleasdell, Auntie Babsie, and Raffick shared an unspoken pact on how to go about caring for their families as the young children grew up.
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| Mrs. Ursula Mapp Bleasdell, Auntie Babsie |
Auntie Babsie and Raffick confided in each other, sharing many heart-to-heart exchanges of their views when Raffick's home was being constructed, for they were close friends indeed.
They used the Abasalis' ample home as a base and discreetly organized together a core group of adult families consisting of the Abasalis, the Mapps/Bleasdells, the Look Loys, and the Gomes. And they reached out to their other nearest and dearest folks in our community.
They reserved the Abasalis' family home to host get-togethers on 'Old Year's Night' and 'Independence Night.' Other functions and fundraising took place at that residence.
'Old Year's Night' was an event that Auntie Babsie featured in, with her attending midnight mass at Santa Rosa RC Church. When she arrived after midnight mass, the blessings were extended to all present. Her life centered around her spiritual vision.
Fr. Mohammed, parish priest of Santa Rosa RC church, was also present to bless the proceedings. Brother Marius, from Mount Saint Benedict, came after Raffick's son, Kazim, started attending Abbey School at the Mount.
| Abasali and Gomes families still meet together at the Abasalis' home to this day |
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| Ma Gomes with Camille at Abasali's home |
There was a quality that he embodied; family meant everything to him. Therefore, family was always welcome. His most sacred vow is that family members should always be cherished.
He went out of his way to make them comfortable. This was because of how he grew up as a young child. He did not want to see anyone go through what we did.
Raffick possessed an American Rambler car. He chose this American brand for its reliability and durability.
Raffick and his wife established the 'Farm and Garden Supplies' shop in the heart of Arima, by the Dial, which is the most distinguishing mark of our Arima town. It served all the farmers and gardeners in the whole of East Trinidad.
He wanted to serve his community the best way he felt he could make a valuable contribution.
He would visit trade shows that came to our main city, Port-of-Spain, to learn more about his line of business so he could attain knowledge about any new products. This was then shared with the customers.
His children, who were old enough, helped in the family business. Much experience was gained. Apart from sales, there was the purchasing of stock, then stocking the shelves in the store. There was banking to attend to each day, with accounting and receipts.
And how to relate with customers, who were people from their community of Arima, and the environs. This was a veritable hands-on education of their young lives.
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| Raffick & Zorida |
He supported his wife, who played a gallant role in shaping the children's lives. The home surroundings were always filled with her beautiful roses, tuberoses, dahlias, orchids, cactus plants, and flowers.
The family had a thriving home kitchen garden. Lettuce was planted, and when it was harvested, it was sold in one of the local supermarkets.
He assisted his wife by ensuring her flower gardens were properly maintained and that the thriving young plants could be sold at their gardening store.
He was a well-traveled person, having made numerous trips around the world for the company he worked for, BWIA. Such countries included the USA, Brazil. China, England, and Mexico.
Although Raffick's travels afforded him a greater experience to better serve his company, they also provided him with a well-rounded education, allowing him to see life from another perspective.
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| Raffick is on one of his overseas trips for BWIA |
His family often visited him at the airport whenever he returned from some of these overseas visits.
He was responsible for his family visiting countries when they were still young (taking advantage of his allowed travel subsidies or rebates). It was part of the children's education, a sort of direct learning experience.
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| Some of Raffick's children and his wife in England |
Additionally, most of his children chose to live abroad when they grew older. They had caught 'the travel bug.'
One characteristic that helped mold his life was his attention to detail. This was evident in his budgeting. He could account for every cent. It was a very striking feature in his life that his family noticed.
His children tried many a time to test him by stealthily taking away a very small sum from the money he emptied out of his pockets at night, only to be told the very next morning to replace the 'exact amount' that he knew was missing.
Being trained in his childhood to be a very charitable person, he volunteered for so many worthwhile projects to give support to throughout his lifetime.
One was working with Mrs. Ursula Mapp Bleasdell, Auntie Babsie, to help with the financing of Holy Cross College. This was on account of Auntie Babsie belonging to the Holy Cross College Management Committee, the Building Committee, and the Fundraising Committee.
The Fundraising Committee of Holy Cross College was comprised of the Management Committee and a few influential persons in and out of Arima.
This Fundraising Committee of Holy Cross College included Raffick, who owned a "Farm and Garden Supplies" store in their town of Arima and was a director of BWIA.
He served in the Arima Borough Council. Raffick became an alderman, as did Auntie Babsie. Cecil Gomes came to be the deputy Mayor of Arima. They chose Rupert Clovis as the Mayor of Arima.
He annually supported his Muslim community every year by contributing in any way he could. Some members became his closest friends.
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| 'Zobes' Ali, Raffick Abasali, Shahid Baksh |
He had functions at his home, like tea parties, to raise funds for some of the causes in his local community. Namely, to support Auntie Babsie in her political pursuit to be a representative of Arima.
He led from the front, as he was the one who showed his family how to work the land by maintaining it and making it into a beautiful rolling landscape that was enjoyed by all who came to visit their home.
Raffick was practical! He taught his children the value of hard work, not with lectures, but by working alongside them. When it came to fatherhood, he was always present.
He was a hands-on kind of person, working with his hands in the dirt, expressing something of his own, so his children could learn to be themselves. Such was the father we grew up with, the man who found meaning in simple things.
From the day their home was built, he guided his family and helped them do everything themselves, both the outside and the inside.
Such as designing and building the beds and small furniture pieces for the house.
Outside the house, they constructed the sidewalks and did all the landscaping, with a lot of dirt brought in by truckloads.
They planted the lawns themselves around the house. He constructed a rolling device, "a roller," that the family used to roll the lawns.
He instilled in his children a deep appreciation for the land so they could enjoy the fruits of their labor later in life.
He bought all the different fruit trees for their orchards and showed the family how the fruit trees should be planted.
In the landscaping duties of their over-an-acre home surroundings, they did not possess any mechanical devices except a lawn mower: no whackers or heavy machinery existed at that time.
Whenever the lawn mower was down for repairs, they would use the swiper. For those years, work was done without any mechanical tools, which made the children into mature grown-ups. There was so much to be done, all the time, with that amount of acreage!
Some grew to love working with the pickaxe and the swiper.
So hard physical work, manual labor, went into taking care of the home surroundings. In addition, making that land into a beautiful rolling landscape of orchards of fruit trees and lawns was accomplished by the might of the family.
Raffick taught his children the lesson and the value of what hard work can achieve if you put your mind to it. He also told them that if they did not like doing hard physical work, they would adhere closely to their academic studies.
However, the children grew to love the hard work, becoming better at doing landscaping, and enjoyed doing it as a profession later in life.
Weekends during school terms were a feeling of excitement for the family.
Even though there were many chores inside and outside the home to do, they played to their hearts' delight in the makeshift sports field that they constructed.
All the neighborhood children gathered every Saturday to play cricket and football in their respective seasons. It was all for fun, as they enjoyed themselves, but through friendly rivalry between the made-up teams.
They also played table tennis in their study and the garage. A badminton set with a net, shuttlecocks, and rackets was also bought to use in the bigger of the two lawns in front of their home.
For their front lawn, he bought and erected a playground consisting of swings and a slide.
Raffick would play cricket with his family in their makeshift sports field and could hit sixes, showing some of the skills he himself had when he was growing up as a youngster.
After all of their laborious work on the weekends, he took them to the Valencia River on Sunday mornings. It was a 'gift' that his children looked forward to.
Pets were an integral part of family life. They lived with other species in their natural surroundings over the years.
Apart from the occasional rabbit, squirrel, and cat, there is man's best friend, the dog! Two dogs are fondly remembered, 'Rexy' and 'Bullyboy'. The latter was more remembered because he was short and never ate anything from anyone's hands.
One of Raffick's favorite radio programs was Larry Heywood's "Voice of One" radio essay/editorials on 610 Radio, which were so popular that the show triggered an avalanche of requests for script copies.
His favorite words he used to encourage you were 'fair enough,' because he was fair when dealing with everybody.
He motivated and elevated others to develop a wholesome self-respect and to believe in their own God-given powers.
For what he envisioned, he accomplished!
He was affectionately and respectfully called "Pa Raffick or Boss."
Raffick Abasali died of a heart attack on the job at BWIA on the 6th of April, 1972. He was only forty-eight (48) years of age.
His death was a loss that shattered the family's centre of gravity. It changed them. They had seen up close how fragile life can be. They were still in the process of finding their own voice.
However, Raffick had lived a full life, quality over quantity, filled with his extraordinary life's work, having accomplished so much in his short lifetime.
His life stands as a testament to what a person can achieve with faith, persistence, and a heart full of love.
At the time of his death, he was serving in a volunteer capacity in an organization that empowered young people.
Raffick and his wife, Zorida, family is comprised of eight (8) children, eleven (11) grandchildren, twelve (12) great-grandchildren, and two (2) great-great-grandchildren.
 Zorida with Licky and Asheera's daughter, Traci | |
Raffick was born without much means (with no modern conveniences as we have today, and we take for granted). However, his early years lit a fire in him to prevail at all costs. He traveled the world, far and wide, serving as a director in the country's national airline, BWIA.
His life has been an example to us and still evokes a sense of wonder and imagination.
Raffick Abasali rose from humble beginnings, chose to build a life around his charitable giving to his family, friends, and community. More than anything, he was a people-person! Not much is known of him, for he was very reserved. He chose to work behind the scenes for the betterment of his family, friends, and his beloved community of Arima.
He served tirelessly in his work ethic, always motivating and helping each member of his dear family and friends. Simple things like opening a savings account and starting a plan for your life.
His spirit lives on in the kind deeds of his children to others, being ever mindful of doing the work of God. Our dear father's gift to us is the loving memory of him. For he created our very own "Song Of Music" for us to enjoy and behold forever!
The upkeep of the home is an ongoing labor of love. Gratitude to his son, Bobby, and his faithful wife, Shamin, for looking after the property for the benefit of the others who reside abroad. Raffick's legacy is preserved and shared by those of the children who are still surviving.
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| Moyin, Narda, Asheera, Camille, & Kazim |
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| Shamin and Bobby |
It would not be at all possible without the help of our friends and family to accomplish this task of Raffick's Bio.
So thank you to ALL my dear friends and family, my sisters, and my brother and his wife (Moyin, Asheera, Camille, Narda, Bobby, and Shamin), for the tremendous support I got from you through the years for compiling this Bio of our Dad. Included in this tribute are our dear departed brothers, Zac and Licky. I am extremely grateful to all of you for your assistance. God bless every single one of you.
Betty Hosein
One of Raffick’s older nieces, Betty Hosein, shared some of her recollections as she lived with them for a short while. She was quite young at the time, and she gravitated more to Raffick’s wife, Dulcina. "His quite modest beginnings were in Guanapo, Nettoville, and De Verteuil Street. This gives a picture of his beginnings when he moved from Cedros to be on his own."
"In Guanapo, he lived in a mud, thatched-roof home, with a mud fireside to cook meals. At that time, many family members from Cedros and Venezuela came to visit on numerous occasions. Even though his resources were quite meager, he welcomed one and all. He rode a bicycle to work. As things improved as we went along, his vision took him to new heights. He then went on to build a homestead for himself and his extended family."
(This picture of Rafficks shows his particularly humble beginnings in life and what he rose to become.)
Keith Sassy Denalli
A family friend, and former Mayor of Arima, shared: The first mention of the name“AbasAli“ was when, as a little boy, I heard my uncles and their friends, in our gallery, Over D Bridge, having a strange conversation.
“Boy, Clovis and dem get d pink slip”.
“Who pass in d rush?”
“It was Clovis, Gomes, Abasali.”
Later on in life, I learnt what “pink slip" meant and what really transpired with the names mentioned above.
From the 1940s onwards, as citizens began moving away from mud walls into bricks, the preferred architecture was to build a house 4 feet above the ground, with concrete pillars and a pillar tree in the center.
Sometime in the 60s, someone built a house “flat on d ground“.
“Who, where”?
“In Dogpatch, ah hear it real nice, don’t know d people“
My friends and I, on bicycles, went to see. Turns out other people got d message and visited.
There was this beautiful, flat house on a sprawling patch of lawn. Eventually, we found out that the owners were some people named Abasali.
I always thought the party term “Laze and Lime” was so creative, the first time hearing it was when, now a teenager, I was invited to attend.
The rest is history.
Yasmin Gopie
A niece, a very close family member, shared, "If you want meaningful, genuine information about him? He was a perfectionist, detailed, and a visionary. Imagine a garden shop in the heart of Arima, then his involvement with the Syrian community; the 1% was cloth-driven, but his vision was unique."
"Today, the block is a landmark of sorts: Providence Circular became reshaped when he moved there. Look at the transformation; it was noticeable. His children were scrutinized, people were jealous, and sometimes it's the path u took in life."
Paula Owolabi
I remember the house parties and the dancing to the wee hours of the morning.
The community taking turns to host family parties.
And shared family planning meeting spaces for after-hours of the Arima Borough Council, planning and execution of fundraising activities.
It was hands-on learning for all the children with their parents/mentors.
The year he died, 1972, it was after I came to university, and I was so sad and wrote your mum many letters from university."
Dianne Gomes-Cedeno
Allison Gill
A close extended family member shares, "Your dad was a really kind, hard-working gentleman. He was always cleaning, and he took great pride in his garden. He accepted my family as his own. Everyone felt welcome. Your dad was a happy-go-lucky person; he made you laugh no matter how serious the situation."
Nazra Abasali-Alam
A niece from Cedros, who now resides in England, shared:
"Uncle Raffick was truly a wonderful man. We always looked forward to his visits to see the rest of his family. He had this incredible ability to make everyone feel loved and special. I will always remember his appreciable smile, his laughter, and his visible car.
It was always a delightful surprise when he came to Cedros. I can still hear that voice addressing my dad, “Baby man, how yuh going? “
Even though he left us too soon, he leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter that will forever inspire me."
Donald Gopaul
A very close family member shared, "Uncle Raffick was never too important or too busy to make us children feel comfortable. He would sit with us and play All Fours just like the adults did.
He was a loving and generous soul. If he came home on a Friday evening a little tipsy, he would give Bobby money so that Bobby, Ronnie, and I could go and buy ice cream at Eat Rite.
He had a vision — to buy the property where he would one day build his home. He poured his heart into the landscaping and took great pride in his beautiful lawn. That love for a well-kept yard is something I inherited from him.
From his humble beginnings in Cedros, he worked hard and made steady progress in his career. He loved his family deeply and was determined to ensure that all his children received a good education.
We will always remember Uncle Raffick for his kindness, his generosity, and his unwavering love for his family. His legacy lives on in every life he touched, and the lessons he taught us will remain in our hearts forever."
Charles Bhawanie
A next-door Providence Circular neighbor had this to say about Mr. Abasali, "I learned a great deal from him. I noticed whenever I visited the Abasali home. Pa Raffick had a wonderful way of getting things done around the house, often involving those of us who came around."
Gerry Wilson
A close Providence Circular neighbor had this to share: "My Vivid and Profound Memories of Mr. Raffick Abasali, better known as 'Pa' or 'Boss Man' during my early to mid-adolescent years: It has been over 60 years, and memories of him still remain sharp and laser-like.
His small frame, handsome and well-groomed, distinguished look stood out. Just like his manicured lawn and garden, meticulous and neat.
He had a White collar job at the National Airlines, BWIA, but with a Blue-collar mentality, very Humble and Kind. Man of Character, Conscientious, Caring with Integrity and a Tremendous Work ethic, on the job and at Home. A FAMILY-First kind of man that made all the Sacrifices needed to be the Provider he was. He also Loved his Community and Shared his garden with them, both Flowers and Fruits.
Boss-man was a True leader, as he led by example, a disciplinarian and a Fair one. Pursuit of higher Education was a must.
Raffick never forgot his Humble Beginnings. He treated everyone Equal, but Not the Same.
Last but not least. HOME was always where his Heart ❤️ and Soul were. Even when dealing with Conflict and Adversity in life, Family was always FIRST and FOREMOST.
May his BEAUTIFUL Soul forever RIP."
Junior Cezair
A close neighbor shared, "Being just thirteen (13) years of age, I vividly recollect visiting the Abasali home. I witnessed Licky and Kazim, Mr. Abasali's two (2) sons, kneeling down, cutting the edges of the front lawn with shears. The lawn was being manicured immaculately. Such was Mr. Abasali, impeccable in personality, and his home surroundings matched his character."
Herman Pereira
A close family friend shared, "I never had any interaction with Mr. Abasali.
A close family friend shared, "I never had any interaction with Mr. Abasali.
All I knew was that he worked at BWIA.
I was impressed by the place he built, the house, the garden, and the many mango trees. I liked the car, that's why I remember it.
I started visiting because of Ricky and Asheera.
I remember the house was always so well-kept, and the terrazzo on the porch was shiny and looking good.
I remember that and used lots of terrazzo in my house.
And then I got to know the family through my frequent visits, and the rest is the history of lifelong friendships and mutual respect.
Your mom, I got to know - beautiful lady."
George Rahael
He would engage both my brother John and myself, and when it came to guiding us, he was my father’s wingman.
I remember him as a kind and gentle person, and 65 years later, I periodically think of him. Mr Abasali was a person I truly admired."
John "Johnny" Rahael shared in a newspaper article: "I will always be grateful for the people of Arima who embraced us and loved us, such as the Abasali family."
The Rahael family was very close to the Abasalis growing up, spending lots of time at home, mingling together.
"And profound gratitude to all of you who added your voice to the discussion, please know how much we appreciate you."
Dear family and friends, your unique perspective and personal memories of our Dad were priceless. They're the small, beautiful threads that, when woven together, form a true and lasting tribute to his life.
Your touching, every memory, was indeed a gift!
And what you shared adds to the tapestry of his life, creating a richer and more complete picture of the man we love. Thank you so very much for your support in honoring his legacy.
His humble beginnings don't just tell a story; they are the foundation of his remarkable rise, a testament to his resilience and unwavering spirit. He grew into the man we admire—a powerful story of perseverance and love.
A very small sampling of photos of close families and friends of Raffick Abasali
Raffick's wife, Zorida, with neighbors, Mrs. Ena Wilson and Mrs. Christina Bhawanie
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| Bobby & Shamin's wedding with Raffick's brothers and his extended family |
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| Raffick's brother, Ousman, with family members |
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| Mrs. Abasali's brother and two (2) sisters |
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| Extended family members |
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| Raffick's brother with his daughter and Raffick's children |
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| Raffick's daughter, Narda, with Cedros' family members |
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| Raffick's eldest sister's grandson, Russel Gopie, and his family. |
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| Raffick's very close friends growing up |
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| Raffick's youngest brother, Akib, and his daughter, Lisa |
"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen," Romans 11:36
Giving heartfelt thanks to God for our dear, loving Dad and Mom. They shared their special gift of love with others. May their souls continue to rest in peace.
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To commemorate our father's birth date (3rd September), a Thanksgiving Mass is being held on behalf of the Abasali family, those living, and those dearly departed, on SUNDAY, 7TH of SEPTEMBER 2025, 11 AM, at HOLY CROSS CHAPEL. Also praying - seeking divine assistance and blessings for our Holy Cross College, Chapel, and Arima community.
A donation of food boxes is being distributed to those in need.
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Kazim supports the 'People of Praise Catholic Community' of Upper De Gannes Street, Arima, who distribute hampers of food, books, stationery, and clothing on an ongoing basis to needy persons and families in Arima and environs. Contact the People of Praise Community at 1-868-667-1544. Office hours: 8:30am to 2:30pm on weekdays. Website: www.poptt.org
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Kazim Abasali's life has been inspired by his loving parents, Raffick and Zorida Abasali, and their dear friend, Mrs. Ursula Mapp Bleasdell, Auntie Babsie.
They played a tremendous part in shaping his life. For he witnessed many of their charitable work personally. His admiration of them has turned into a life of purpose and service.
Kazim, as a voluntary social worker, eventually worked for Santa Rosa R. C. Church in his hometown of Arima. Projects included seeing after the elderly with home repairs; researching and finding jobs for the displaced, and providing job training; organizing small businesses; Meals on Wheels, and food bank operations; and other support services for those in need.
He also worked in the 'House of Light' under the O'Connors. The various organizations he has worked for include the Diabetes Association, Historical Society, Kiwanis Club, Catholic Social Services, and Memisa Home for the physically challenged.
This was followed by being a member of the Trinidad East Lions (which ultimately became the Arima Lions), having served under Dr. Lloyd Ramcharan, who played a major role in his development at that time of his life.
In a way, he carries on the work that his parents did in their lifetime. He tells the story of the development of Holy Cross College. He created a website for Holy Cross College and the Alumni Association and maintains the website.
Kazim, to serve his beloved community of Arima, built a website and a Facebook group called Arima Community Info Resource Centre. "The primary reason is that I wanted to do something to at least arrest the crime situation in our country. I decided I would write and publish Bios of Arimians to inspire the youths of our Arima communities."
From the group's inception, it was also administered by the late Lisa Morris-Julian, parliamentary representative for D'Abadie/O'Meara, and a former Mayor of Arima.
Kazim, while living in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2002, with his friend George Roundy, addressed the issue of world hunger together with a core team of ten individuals.
They helped raise close to $100,000 US for The Hunger Project – an organization that empowers inhabitants in different countries of the world to be self-reliant.
Kazim served the global community by utilizing his website, 'Empower with Art.' He produced art creations digitally as a fractal artist, making a difference. The site lasted from Monday, 30th September 2013, to March 2021, when he suffered a stroke. After hospitalization, he deleted the website, thinking his life was at an end. The 'Empower with Art' site is partially preserved by the Internet Archive today.
“Sharing Awareness of our Universal Eco-Civilization Consciousness, for We are United Together by the Life Force of Our Earth Home We All Depend On for Sustainability”...Kazim Abasali
He used his songwriting and composing skills as therapy to regain his mind.
For the year 2022, he had composed, arranged, and produced close to sixty (60) songs of his own compositions. In 2023, he did two hundred (200) songs, and in 2024, he completed five hundred and ten (510) songs.
This was a major part of his brain-saving stroke rehabilitation therapy. Included in his compositions is a song dedicated to his alma mater, Holy Cross College, 'Holy Ground'.
Kazim continues to serve in other ways. Despite the paralysing stroke and being wheelchair-bound, he battles daily, cause life is about overcoming. He lives life victoriously. He finds a way to do things by persevering and thinking innovatively. With God, all things are possible.
He uses this personal blog as he grows and develops his mind, encouraging others on their own path of attainment.
"If ye have faith...nothing shall be impossible unto you." Matthew 17:20
"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:2
"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." Proverbs 22:1
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