Haji Ralph D. Khan was born on 03 August, 1929.  He was born in the rural district of Diamond Village, Picton Street to be exact, on the outskirts of San Fernando.  The fifth of ten children born to Baraichee and Subrattan Khan.  On 03 August, 1968 he married Jennifer, who was at that time an employee of Caroni (1975) Ltd.  They had two children together, Imran and Nadeira. 

 

During his lifetime, he was a student of  Naparima College, and started off very humbly as a community worker at Diamond Village.  He  served in the petroleum industry (now called Petrotrin), was a productive Insurance Executive, having later assumed other important roles such as Public Relations Officer of A.S.J.A., Member of the Upper House of Parliament (the Senate), Executive Member of the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC), Deputy Chairman of the state-appointed board of  Social Help and Rehabilitative Efforts (SHARE), President of the Justices of the Peace Association of Trinidad and Tobago (JOPATT), Secretary/Director of the Haji Ruknuddeen Institute of  Islamic Studies, executive member of the San Fernando Jama Masjid and basically a remarkable social worker.

 

Haji Ralph as he was often called, was the founder and Managing Director of Ralico Insurance Services Ltd. (Agents for the Maritime Financial Group). He qualified for membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT).  For those of you who are not aware of what that represented, “in order to qualify for such an award, a recipient, apart from evincing an excellent record, maintaining and extending the benefits of life insurance and the sale of a substantial amount of life insurance, must demonstrate consistent and quality client service, high ethical standards and industry involvement all aimed at professionalism.”  Through his membership in the Life Underwriters Association of Canada, he qualified for this international award on numerous occasions.  He was fond of cricket and All Fours.

 

Putting all “titles” aside, he is remembered as being honest, industrious, creative and people from all ‘walks of life’ came to him for assistance in many regards.  For those who did not have the honour of knowing him, he gave a lifetime of devoted service to the citizens of our twin-island Republic in the areas of culture, business, religion and was a versatile and gifted Singer.  He performed at Trinidad Music Festivals, and will always be remembered for his melodious voice when it came to Qaseedah singing, the national anthem and the Azaan.   He is affectionately remembered for his jokes, his writing skills, his melodious voice, his serious-mindedness, his ‘no-nonsense’ attitude and being a workaholic. 

 

On 23rd September 1980, Haji Ralph D. Khan, Founder, established his own business known as RALICO INSURANCE SERVICES LIMITED.  He transacted business independently on behalf of Maritime Life (Caribbean) Ltd. from an office located in Minimax Building on San Fernando Street, in San Fernando. (where TSTT is now located). 

 

He remained there until 1985 when he transferred his operations to a more spacious and strategic location at the Textel Building on St. James Street in San Fernando, where he operated until 1991.  Thereafter, transferring operations to #24 Rushworth Street West, San Fernando.

 

Ralico Insurance Services Ltd. Continues to be agents for the Maritime Financial Group.  By December 2005, Mr. Khan had served the Maritime Financial Group for thirty two (32) consecutive years and had been awarded in different ways on numerous occasions for his long outstanding, loyal and dedicated service to the company as evidenced by the relevant certificates of appreciation and other paraphernalia strategically placed in his office.

 

On 06th February, 2008 Haji Ralph passed away thereby ‘passing the reigns over’ to his daughter Nadeira, who is now the Managing Director of Ralico and a qualified Agent to sell General Insurance for the Maritime General Insurance Company Ltd.  She has been working with her dad and Ralico since July 1989.