Prof Leslie Spence, founder of Trinidad and Tobago s Public Health Lab dies at 98
2 Hrs Ago
Prof Leslie Spence, right, speaks to former president George Maxwell Richards at the National Awards ceremony, President s House in 2009. Spence was awarded the Chaconia Medal (silver) for his contribution in the field of medicine. -
Elisha S. Tikasingh
Professor Leslie Spence died May 13, 2021 in Toronto, Canada, aged 98.
He was a former director of the Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory (TRVL) on Jamaica Boulevard, Federation Park. The TRVL was later replaced by the Caribbean Epidemology Centre (Carec), then the Caribbean Public Health Agency (Carpha). He also convinced the Ministry of Health to start its own diagnostic lab, currently called the Trinidad and Tobago Public Health Laboratory.