Guyana Chronicle
May 18, 2001

ANDREW `Sixhead' Lewis yesterday basked in the glory of the moment he had been waiting three months for since he became Guyana's first world boxing champion in February -- he wanted to be home to celebrate with his people.

And celebrate he did.

And they held him to their hearts and basked with him for hours after he landed to a grand welcome at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri.

They turned out in huge numbers to hail him from the airport to the formal civic welcome usually accorded visiting international dignitaries at City Hall.

Along the East Bank Demerara highway as he rode in an open back vehicle, some waved banana leaves, flowers and branches in his honour.

That too is usually reserved for visiting princes and statesmen and women.

But here was their world champion, their king home to visit.

Royalty, presidents and prime ministers had been received in the hallowed chambers of City Hall countless times before -- getting the golden key to the city, garlanded and showered with adulation.

And `Sixhead' was given the royal treatment and feted like a king yesterday.

He just couldn't believe the news shortly after he had propelled himself and his country to international fame in Las Vegas in February.

"Oh God, man! That's good! That's wonderful!" he kept exclaiming when told that President Bharrat Jagdeo had declared Monday, February 19 a national holiday in his honour.

"A national holiday for me?", he wondered then.

He was all excited and his excitement was understandable then and he was still all excited and it was all still understandable yesterday.

His victory was something that has been rippling through the nation and among his country folk scattered around the world since he, in fine style, made American James Page eat his words in Las Vegas.

He had asked that the national holiday be named "Andrew `Sixhead' Lewis Day" and here he was home yesterday as if it was still the holiday.

This ordinary working class boy who has pushed himself to the top of the boxing world showed yesterday that he had not given up his roots and still cares for his country.

In his glory he appealed to his country folk to live as one and be united, a message he has been pushing even as he trained for his first title defence in New York.

In a media statement just hours after watching the February fight with Lewis' townsfolk in Albouystown, Georgetown, President Jagdeo had declared, "He has done our country proud; his victory is a victory for all Guyanese."

Six is home to share that victory with his people.

Welcome home, Sixhead!

And help spread the peace and unity message.