Sir Aziz Hadeed, one of Antigua and Barbuda's most prominent business leaders and philanthropists, will be accorded an official funeral following his sudden death in Chicago on Saturday. According to Antigua.news, his passing has sent shockwaves throughout the nation.
Sir Aziz reportedly collapsed and died while visiting the United States, where his wife, Dr. Mahasen Hadeed, previously practiced medicine. He had been expected to return to Antigua over the weekend.
The news triggered an immediate outpouring of grief across the country. Many remembered him not only as one of Antigua and Barbuda's most accomplished businessmen, but as a generous and compassionate figure who quietly transformed countless lives.
Sir Aziz was a driving force behind the growth of the Hadeed Group of Companies, helping to build it into the country's largest business conglomerate. Born to the late Fares and Ramza Hadeed, he arrived in Antigua in the early 1960s and attended St. Joseph's Academy, where he overcame language barriers through an exceptional aptitude for mathematics.
After leaving school, he joined the family business, F.E. Hadeed and Sons, working closely with his older brother, Sir Ramez Hadeed, to expand the company's reach across multiple sectors.
Among his most significant contributions was the establishment of the Antigua Power Company (APC), which now provides the majority of the island's electricity generation through its arrangement with APUA. More recently, the company moved toward innovative energy solutions, including plans for a hybrid diesel and liquefied natural gas facility.
Beyond business, Sir Aziz served in public life as an Independent Senator and later as a Cabinet member under former Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer.
Many, however, say his greatest passion was education and youth development. As Chairman of the Council of The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, he worked tirelessly to secure support for the institution's expansion while personally financing the education of numerous students. He also assisted many individuals across Antigua and Barbuda with healthcare expenses, housing repairs, business opportunities and educational support, often without seeking public recognition.
His commitment to culture and the arts was equally evident. Sir Aziz donated land to the Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra for the future construction of its headquarters.
Earlier this year, Sir Aziz celebrated receiving the prestigious KCMG honour from Prince William in London — an achievement widely regarded as formal recognition of his decades of contribution to national development and philanthropy.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne paid tribute to Sir Aziz during his Browne and Browne radio programme on Saturday, extending condolences to the Hadeed family and referring to him affectionately as "Comrade Aziz."
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.
