In Brief
- Financial pioneer passes: Ameer Edoo, the inaugural Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange, has died at the age of 90.
- Peaceful passing: Edoo’s son, Zaheer, announced on social media that his father passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday evening.
- Industry titan: Remembered as the ‘guiding star’ of the local stock market, Edoo had a distinguished career that included serving as Chairman and CEO of West Indies Stockbrokers Ltd (WISE).
- Legal controversies: Alongside his financial achievements, Edoo was a central figure in the Piarco International Airport development fraud inquiry and the subsequent Section 34 controversy.
- Enduring legacy: Despite his legal battles, Edoo is widely recognised for his instrumental role in modernising and globalising Trinidad and Tobago’s financial sector.
By Alicia Chamely
The inaugural Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange and former Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago executive, Ameer Edoo, has passed away at the age of 90.
Edoo’s death was announced on Tuesday by his son, Zaheer, on Facebook. He posted, “It’s with a heavy heart that I inform you that my father, Ameer A. Edoo, passed away peacefully in his sleep last evening.”
Once revered as the “guiding star of Trinidad & Tobago’s stock market,” Edoo’s journey into the financial world began during his studies at South West London College in the United Kingdom, where he majored in accounting.
A past president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Edoo’s legacy was cemented during his tenure as Chairman and CEO at West Indies Stockbrokers Ltd (WISE).
A biography published on ameeredoo.com states, “Under his visionary leadership, WISE became the preeminent brokerage firm in Trinidad & Tobago, rewriting industry standards and establishing a legacy that endures today.”
“Among his numerous professional achievements, his pioneering role as the inaugural Chairman of the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange is among the most celebrated. In this distinguished position, he adeptly steered the market through transformative changes, guiding it toward globalisation and skilfully adapting to the ever-evolving demands of modern finance,” it reads.
However, despite his achievements and long-lasting impact on T&T’s financial sector, Edoo also became a notable figure after being charged in the Piarco International Airport development fraud inquiry. Edoo, alongside Steve Ferguson, Ishwar Galbaransingh, and former government ministers, faced fraud charges stemming from the airport construction project.
This also made him a central figure in the Section 34 controversy, a law that allowed the judiciary to throw cases that were more than ten years old. It was eventually repealed.
Despite this, Edoo’s legacy remains deeply tied to the role he played as Chairman of the T&T Stock Exchange and his broader contributions to the nation’s financial sector.
Edoo is expected to be laid to rest on Wednesday.
