Oscar Parvaton – Magistrate. Former Principal Magistrate Oscar Parvatan (February 26, 1931 – February 20, 2007) who sang calypsos as Prince Nehru in his youthful days, died yesterday at his brother’s Kingston, Georgetown residence after a prolonged illness. He was 75.
According to his brother, Vibert Parvatan, a senior official at Fogarty’s, the former magistrate for the Leonora Court took ill last year with a heart condition and sought medical attention overseas. He later returned to Guyana, was recuperating and was making plans to return to work while receiving medical attention locally while staying at his place in Kingston. Oscar Parvatan was diagnosed with congestive heart failure which ultimately took his life.
Vibert Parvatan said that his brother would be remembered as a firm magistrate with a lively sense of humor, which helped to relieve the tension of a courtroom.
Oscar Parvatan was born on February 26, 1931 to George and Ivy Parvatan, and was the third of five children.
Before embarking on a law career, he worked in Agricultural research then moved to the United Kingdom to pursue further education. In the united Kingdom he worked with the London Transport, and then joined the British Army and pursued studies in Medical technology. He then worked as a systems analyst with Mobil Oil and thereafter decided to pursue law, and graduated from the Lincoln’s Inn.
While in London, Parvatan headed the West Indian Students’ Society for many years and was a regular vocalist and guitarist on the BBC program ‘Calling the Caribbean’. He returned to Guyana where he served as State Counsel and State Prosecutor, before settling as a Magistrate.
During his tenure as a magistrate, he served in several locations, including Berbice, before ending his career at Leonora, on the West Coast of Demerara.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Labor Minister Manzoor Nadir, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee and Chief Justice Carl Singh were among the many Government representatives at the funeral service. Also in attendance were former Chancellor and now Head of the Police Complaints Authority Cecil Kennard, numerous judges and magistrates, both serving and retired, an array of lawyers and numerous people Parvatan touched and associated with during his lifetime.
Persons paying tribute at the funeral service were Mrs, Loraine Parvatan (wife), Vibert his brother, former Government Minister and now an executive of Laparkan, former Chancellor Kennard Officiating priest, Fr. Malcolm Rodrigues S.J., urged the emotional gathering, in his homily, to reflect on lessons of the scripture which dealt with a time and place for everything…something he noted that Oscar Parvatan emulated in his life.
Oscar Parvatan leaves to mourn his wife Loraine, brother Vibert, sister Eilene, eight children, and many relatives and friends.
