Most people retire in their 60’s and 70’s.
Not Basdeo Boney. At 91, he enjoys being a barber as much as he did when he first started over seven decades ago.
In an interview with News 19 TT at his Marabella barbershop, he said it’s conversations and friendships with people from all walks of life that have kept him going.
“It is a pleasure being with people, talking with people, hearing different people advice, hearing different people opinion, they always bringing something for you to eat, for me, it is beautiful, it is wonderful, for me, it is beautiful, wonderful dealing with people.”
Boney is still very active and jovial. During the interview, he would suddenly pop out of his chair to get an old photograph of him and his friends, returning with the smile of someone who has had the benefit of years of great relationships.
He said many well-known men have sat in his chair over the years.
“I used to cut a sitting prime minister’s hair, Mr Patrick Manning. I trim him for years. I trim ministers in government, in my chair.”
He also recalls his friendship with Yasin Abu Bakr, who was a police officer before he led the 1990 attempted coup to overthrow this country’s government.
Boney has a photo of himself and Bakr, taken sometime early in the pandemic. Bakr died in 2021.
“I was friends with him from since he was a police officer, before he joined the Muslimeen,” Boney said.
But it was not just his famous clients that Boney remembers after so many years.
He said the best part of his over-70-year career has been conversations with people from all walks of life.
“It was a pleasure meeting people of all different, all different class, all different country, it was a beauty. I met people from Russia, Uganda…”
“They also give me my respect, there are so many things that I learn from people.”
Boney said these lessons have served him well throughout the years.
“I learned different ways of people’s style of life, different ways how people think and how I think, I have learned a lot from them, how to go about my life, my family life, how to go about life in general, when to say something, when not to say something. The less you say, the better you are.”
His heart is full of gratitude for the people who have kept coming to his barbershop after so many years.
“I must thank them for being faithful, being nice to my family, being nice to me and I learn a lot from them and without them, I don’t know who I would have been today.”
And even at 91, he says retirement is still years ahead.
When asked how long he will continue to cut hair, he replied, “‘Til I’m a 106 years.”
Boney credits his father’s guidance for his success and wants young people to turn to their elders for advice.
“Listen to your parents, your parents will never tell you something wrong and by listening to your parents, there is always a door that will open for you for your success.
“By not listening to your parents, the doors are closed.
“If I didn’t listen to my father, I wouldn’t be here talking to you today. Or listen to an elderly (person), there is always someone who could give you advice.”
He believes the way his parents raised him is also the secret to a long, happy life.
“ learn from my parents to love people. And I think, is what I learn from my parents, that is the secret of life.
“Don’t live with hate.
“Live with love, some people may do certain things to you and you may be upset but there is always the Lord there to help you. So while they upset you, the Lord protects you.”
Boney wants his father’s legacy to continue even after he’s gone.
To do that, he wants to bring fresh talent to the barbershop.
He is currently recruiting new barbers and those who are interested in working with a legend in this field can call the barbershop at
658-1653.
