Ahead of the Pack - Bernard Dulal-Whiteway

Ahead of the Pack

Some of his closest associates tell just how much of a 'banker'* Bernard Dulal-Whiteway was.
During his nearly 40-year career, it often looked like Bernard Dulal-Whiteway was always first past the post.
He moved from Neal & Massy Holdings assembly plant accountant to CEO as easily as the winning race horse breaks away from the pack. In 2008, he won T&T's second highest national honour, the Chaconia Gold Medal, for 'long and meritorious service' to the nation's business interests, and held several company directorships over the years. And at the time of his passing at age 62, Dulal-Whiteway had held the reins at Neal & Massy Holdings for nine years, guiding the company from one of its darkest points to a period of great productivity.
Everyone knew that Dulal-Whiteway was a born leader, his friends say. Family friend Vishnu Tewarie knew Dulal-Whiteway both in and out of the office ever since the two studied Accounting together in London. He insisted that his friend proved his leadership not just by paying dues, but by coming early, staying late and earning a reputation as an intuitive, decisive person who listened before he laid down the law.
“He was a decision maker. Bernard was not going to ask for a hundred-page feasibility study or set up a committee to make a report on any proposal. That wasn't Bernard's style," Tewarie said. "He would listen to what you have to say, take a piece of paper, think about it for a while and make some notes. Then he would say: 'Look, I think we should go with this.' His mentor in the group was Ralph Rostant and he learned that from him."
His business savvy and leadership skill was undisputable, said mentor Sidney Knox, also a former Neal & Massy CEO. Although many accountants see business narrowly, Knox said that from the time he was hired by the group, Dulal-Whiteway instinctively had a more broadminded view of how a business should be run, showing clear leadership potential.
“He believed that the strength of the group was in the people that worked there, so his style was to get great people to join the group, like the present CEO Gervase Warner."
Dulal-Whiteway definitely had a golden touch with his staff. But not many know that he was a people's person all-round, as his brother David can attest. David Dulal-Whiteway may have been his brother's first protégé, but he certainly wasn't his last. And his genuineness always shone through.
“The Bernard you met in the office was the same Bernard you will meet out of office even in short pants," the younger Dulal-Whiteway said.
Tewarie agreed: "He wasn't like some young boys today who sit in their offices and run companies with computers. We used to go down in the workers' canteen at lunchtime and play all fours with them. He knew what was going on with the workers. I learned that from him."
An avid horse racing enthusiast, the late Dulal-Whiteway was also a voracious reader. Both Knox and the younger Dulal-Whiteway reminisced about his ability to work hard and play hard too. Tewarie added anecdotes about Dulal-Whiteway's famous generosity, his love for fruits like mango and mamey sapote and about the humility that ruled his personal ethical code of conduct.
“He came back home in July very ill. But he called and said, 'Vish, I going to the Immigration Office (Frederick Street), come and keep me company nah boy.' We were waiting in the main office chatting and he tells me, 'Vish, yesterday I had it real hard. I went Sangre Grande and waited for my passport whole day! And I still didn't get through.'
I told him, 'Bernard, what wrong with you! You could call the President, the Prime Minister or the Minister of National Security and get that handle for you.' I'll never forget what he told me.
He said, 'You know, Vish. I'm just not that type of person.' And that was so true of Bernard."
Dulal-Whiteway was very proud of his business achievements, especially of his appointment as CEO, according to both his brother and Tewarie. His Chaconia Gold medal also brought him a lot of pride; but he considered his son Graeme to be his greatest achievement, Tewarie said.
“I think he was looking forward to retiring in a few years and spending more time with his family and friends," his younger brother added.
But he didn't get to fulfill that dream; his excellent work ethic meant that he missed too many yearly medicals. The cancer that eventually took his life was diagnosed too late, although he fought it very step of the way, his associates say.
“I saw him a few days before he died," 82-year-old Knox said. "And at that stage he was in a lot of pain, but still he was tremendous."
Although he was not one to lecture, his friends agree said that Dulal-Whiteway left an immaculate legacy in the wake of his untimely and much-mourned death. Not with words, Tewarie said, but with his very life.
*Banker - A horse that is highly expected to win.

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