Veteran public servant dies of cancer

Tonight we regret to note the passing of veteran public servant, Evadney Wade. The fifty-six year old Wade passed away at the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan around five on Tuesday evening surrounded by relatives and friends. She is survived by children Jeanette and Fred and three grandchildren. For the past four years, Wade battled breast cancer, travelling frequently to the United States for radiation treatment. But two months ago, tests revealed that the cancer had spread to her lungs and blood stream. Wade retired from public life last year after serving as head of the Geology and Petroleum Department for eighteen years. She was widely respected by colleagues and the wider community as a hard working and straight shooting public officer. During Monday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Minister of Natural Resources John Briceño paid tribute to Wade’s dedication to her country.

John Briceño, Minister of Natural Resources
?She served unselfishly the department, this ministry, the government and the people of Belize for more than twenty years. And it was her optimism, her feeling, her firm belief that we had, we have oil in commercial quantities in Belize. She never gave up on that idea, on that thought, and worked tirelessly to be able to achieve that and last year, as I announced in this honourable house, we finally found a field of commercial quantities. I want to record in this honourable house again, the service that Ms. Wade has given to this country and that all of us can keep her in our prayers.?

According to family members, Wade will be buried on Saturday in Belmopan following a mass at the St. Ann’s Anglican Church at three in the afternoon.