By Precious Mills
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Thursday 29th June 2023)- Under the celebration of life theme dubbed ‘Everlasting OJ’, hundreds of people from all walks of life on Wednesday 28th June 2023, gathered at Warner Park Football stadium to pay their respect to well-known public figure, food and beverage Rasta businessman 47year old Alden Duane ‘OJ’ Maynard, originally from the McKnight community but resided in St.
Peter’s. For what can be described as a state service-like event, many individuals wore T-shirts featuring a photo of Maynard with two phrases ‘Everlasting OJ’ and also ‘Watch No face’ which was the famous business name attached to the quality and nature of the customer service care he offered.
This reporter came across a woman by the name of Andrea who did a 3-D model showcasing Maynard’s business spot at the Industrial Site in the East Basseterre community. Maynard’s eulogy was delivered by Dr. Garfield Alexander whom he described as his ‘role model’ during the presentation.
As understood from him, Maynard taught among his male friends the habit of saying ‘I love you’ “OJ was a dude who was quite in touch with his feelings; empathetic…and I won’t tell you no lie; he was one of the persons who teach me how to be a man,” Dr. Alexander stated.
He highlighted that by 1994, Maynard had finished high school, and would take part in cricket, basketball, football. He said further that in 1996 or thereabout after many successful exploits in sports, Maynard focused on what would be his scope and “he decided to feed the nation.” He spotlighted the healthy Rasta food called ital saying “He started in McKnight cooking ital. ‘OJ’Alden Maynard made ital trendy. ..he normalized the way we should eat.” According to Dr.
Alexander, “People often say he fed the nation. He loved to cook. OJ loved people and all us have that innate or physiological need to eat. It’s when we are at our most calmest. the nicest person is angry when they’re hungry.
The late Alden Duane ‘OJ’ Maynard He understood the impact of food but he also understood the impact of connection…” Officiating Minister Archdeacon Isaiah Phillip spoke about how he and Maynard became connected over the years having been his adopted priest. “Brothers and sisters I continue to ask myself all the time how on earth I also got tied up with OJ’s funeral, and I remember we met on the occasion in the preparation for the baptism of his son Shamar, and I don’t know what it is but something in our conversations and our connections, connected us together and in a very real way.
OJ didn’t do what I was trying to entice him and influence him to do which is to join the St. Peter’sAnglican Church but he did something a little better in the sense that he adopted me as his priest… Archdeacon Phillip added: “And from there onwards everything in OJ’s life I just become connected.
Even OJ’s friend who have a vehicle want bless, all of a sudden I’m blessing his friend’s vehicle. OJ make me his priest and he make me their priest because I was his priest…” He also mentioned how Maynard told him ‘Well you know if anything happen to me you know, you ah de man who got to read over me’ – LOCAL NEWS – 3
“We talked a lot and we made a lot of jokes about a lot of things. He say all kinda things that I would think would never happen Well you know if anything happen to me you know, you ah de man who got to read over me’…” Archdeacon Phillip shared that: “Even though we didn’t know one another for a very long time, I want to say to you and to say to all of us: let us not get caught up especially because of the tragic circumstances in which OJ lost his life [and] with the length of his because his life was very short in terms of years; he didn’t even make half of a century as yet but let us get caught up and connected to the quality of life that he lived because when we look at the quality and the kind of life he lived, OJ has really lived a very long and blessed life in terms of the quality of the kind of relationships that he built and shared with the people around him.” The religious leader’s comments in that regard brought a light moment to the solemn occasion as many reacted through laughter hearing about his relationship with Maynard.
Following the ceremony, a procession flowed through the streets of Basseterre via Victoria Road and onto Cayon Street en route to the Springfield Cemetery for the burial ceremony. Music accompaniment which emanated from the speakers included Burning Spear’s ‘Jah No Dead’ Maynard was shot dead on the morning of Tuesday 6th June on the F.TWilliams Highway in the vicinity of La Guerite.
Front Page Image: Shirleta Maynard-Arthurton (right), a sister of the late of 47-year old Alden Duane ‘OJ’ Maynard embraces her daughter Charnel who was overcome with emotions during the celebration of life ceremony held on Wednesday 28th June 2023 gathered at Warner Park Football stadium (Spokesman Snap)
