`Six Heads' victory a proud moment for all Guyana - President Jagdeo by Shirley Thomas Guyana Chronicle February 20, 2001 The crowds cheered and waved their party flags in a fine show of support for Guyana's newly declared hero. PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo says the victory by Andrew `Six Heads' Lewis over American James Page in Saturday night's World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight championship bout is "a proud moment for all of Guyana." Mounting the political platform and ready to address the mammoth crowd that had gathered to hear him deliver his campaign address at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara Sunday afternoon, the President was all in glee. Not only at seeing the large following of People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) supporters and others that had gathered at the square to give him support, but evidently in glee because of the remarkable feat another young son of the soil had just a few hours earlier performed. Andrew `Six Heads' Lewis, 30, had just levelled a crushing defeat over Page in Las Vegas, in the seventh round, to become Guyana's first ever world boxing champion. President Jagdeo who was in Hunter Street with the people of Albouystown watching the fight expectantly on huge TV screens as `Six Heads' delivered the punches, was all over in mirth. And in recognition of the sterling performance by Guyana's winner, Mr Jagdeo soon after declared yesterday a national holiday in Lewis' honour. Standing tall as he took to the podium, President Jagdeo roundly asserted in the presence of the massive crowds: "I want to say - today was a proud moment for all of Guyana!" "A son of our motherland, `Six Heads' Lewis won for the first time in our history, a world boxing title!" The appreciative and similarly elated crowd jumped and roared in enthusiasm. They were all happy. They cheered and waved their party flags in a fine show of support for Guyana's newly declared hero. And for a moment it appeared as though this celebration was taking place in Lewis' hometown - Albouystown, Georgetown. And with even greater pride President Jagdeo stated: "Our country is put on the map of the world, people from all across the world saw a son of Guyana fight and win the match." "I was extremely proud," he declared, his words echoing above loud cheers. "All of us have celebrated. He is a child of this country. He was born here. He belongs to Guyana. He belongs to us - all of us. "And that is why I have declared tomorrow (yesterday) a national holiday!" HOYTE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE Then on a sombre note he expressed disappointment that leader of the main Opposition People's National Congress REFORM (PNC-R), Mr Desmond Hoyte, had ignored his suggestion that they should go to Albouystown to look at the fight together. Said Mr Jagdeo: "On Nomination Day I said (to Mr Hoyte) - Why not let's take a day off from the campaign, and go to Albouystown to look at the match? Because Albouystown is where `Six Heads' Lewis came from." "It would have been a good gesture for national unity in this country if he had done so. But he is so elitist that he didn't go there," President Jagdeo asserted. The President continued: "Last night I turned up to a PNC function, and then to another one in Albouystown to watch the match. "But he was sitting in Sophia. He is even afraid to associate with his own supporters...And that's why on March 19 they are not going to vote for him..." "He should have been there," President Jagdeo reiterated. And giving the wildly waving and cheering crowd a word of advice he exhorted: "Comrades, as we celebrate we also have to seriously analyse the issues before us. We have to analyse issues that would be important for our children." "And I want to say to you, that if you put the future of your children within these (his) hands, they are going to be safe, because behind me, and supporting me, I have a party with a tradition." "I have a party with experience - with people who have committed their lives to the return of freedom in this country...and I have also a young group of people who have been joining with us, because we need both the young and the old," he affirmed. Meanwhile, President Jagdeo at another forum earlier in the day, announced that instead of refurbishing the Albouystown gym as he had earlier discussed with the Minister of Youth and Sports, he would be building two new gyms in Albouystown. Organisers said the turnout at the Stewartville rally was even larger than the massive turnout at the PPP/C elections campaign launch in Kitty earlier this month. Parties hail `Six Heads' victory THE main opposition People's National Congress REFORM (PNC/R), the Working People's Alliance (WPA) and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) yesterday hailed the victory by Andrew `Six Heads' Lewis over American James Page in Las Vegas Saturday night. Shortly after the victory, President Bharrat Jagdeo who watched the fight on TV with Lewis' hometown residents in Albouystown, Georgetown, declared yesterday a national holiday in his honour. He also announced that he had instructed the state to provide Lewis with a house and land on his return to Guyana. Lewis was overjoyed when told of the gifts by the Chronicle and his manager Nelson Fernandez said the boxer was due home in two weeks for a short stay. In a statement yesterday, the PNC/R said Lewis' achievement was due solely to his personal efforts and determination and the support of his close family as well as his many supporters in Albouystown. "His victory is significant not only for Guyana but indeed other Commonwealth and Caribbean countries whose people share a common heritage", it said. The PNC said Lewis now joins "a list of distinguished Guyanese boxers who through their international exploits have brought honour and glory to our beloved country." Party leader, Mr Desmond Hoyte and the membership extended congratulations and good luck to Lewis. In a statement, the WPA said the Guyanese "made good his promise to the people of Guyana to give us our first world title in boxing." The WPA said that Lewis' gift to Guyana "is more than a world title." "It is also the example of his rise from the poverty of a neglected community, his grit and determination in the face of frustrating manipulation to prevent him having a deserved crack at the world title and his proud bearing of the Guyana flag through his professional activities in the United States and into the boxing ring at Las Vegas." "Lewis is a credit to all those who raised him, in particular his mother, Yvonne Eversley. It is a matter for national sadness and protest that she was denied a visa to the U.S. to witness her son's victory in person", the WPA said. "We embrace Andrew...Lewis as a national hero and all Guyana should reward him appropriately and we should prepare him a grand welcome." GPSU President, Mr Patrick Yarde also extended "heartfelt congratulations" to the boxer. "We are all overjoyed with your victory which no doubt has given all Guyanese wherever they may be a sense of pride at being Guyanese." Yarde said Lewis "exemplified the wealth of talent which abounds in our country. However that talent needs to be nurtured and encouraged for it to blossom in a positive way as yours have." He said the union leadership believed that with an elightened government policy on sports, many more boxers and other sportsmen and women will blossom. "You have done all Guyana proud and we are happy to share this moment in time with you, your family and your management", Yarde said. 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