Guyana Chronicle
May 19, 2001

`TEAM Lewis' stopped by at the Chronicle offices in Bel Air Park, Georgetown yesterday morning at the invitation of Editor-in-Chief Sharief Khan and our world champion soon let in on a little secret.

"I know the Chronicle well...I used to sleep here...", he told Khan as he was being escorted into the Editorial Department.

Andrew `Six Head' Lewis recalled that as a young boy he used to collect papers at the Chronicle offices for a vendor named Diana and said he many nights had to sleep there until the papers were printed.

That was about 20 years ago, he said, and being back there yesterday brought a flood of memories.

Walking through the plant swarmed by happy employees sharing his glory yesterday probably reflected the long road he has travelled since.

The Chronicle was the place where once as a little boy he slept as he waited for the newspaper to be printed to get a `small piece' from helping a vendor and here he was yesterday, now being escorted around the same place -- a world champion graciously come to receive a gift.

`Six' readily agreed to drop into the Chronicle to receive a framed copy of the sold out February 19 edition that emblazoned his historic victory on the front page.

The edition features photos of his moments of glory and interviews with the champ, his manager and relatives and `Six' was visibly moved as he saw the gift and accepted it.

It was a small tribute to the champ but the presentation in many ways marked his sterling achievement.

The deeply appreciative Guyanese hero who Thursday night spent his moments "Bigging up" in the Concert Hall of City Hall at a civic reception held in his honour by the Mayor and City Council, stayed about 20 minutes at the Chronicle "freeing up" in brotherly fashion with the warmly receptive and overtly enthusiastic staff.

His only disappointment was that his request for more copies of the February 18 issue could not be met, on account of it being sold out the same day it came off the press.

Quite unlike 10:15 hrs on any other workday at the Chronicle, when reporters would be out in the fields on assignment, or glued to their computers and bent under pressure of work, the Editorial office yesterday was filled with merry and lighthearted laughter and all were in one accord.

Meanwhile, those who were out on assignment practically missed 'half of their lives'.

Excited staff members all clamoured up to congratulate the champion, get handshakes; pose with him and Georgia Ried and their baby "Five Head" and the entourage for photographs; get autographs; and listen to him recapturing fond memories of his days as a young boy.

As word went around with lightning speed of the arrival of the national hero and his entourage at the newspaper office, work immediately ground to a temporary halt as employees from the various departments exited their offices and work sites and swarmed the Editorial Department to meet and greet dear Six Head.

On arrival he was greeted by the Editor-in Chief and staff members of the Sports Department before being ushered into the Editorial Department where the presentation was made.

Accompanying the World Champion were his adorable baby boy Andrew Lewis Jnr. whom he had on Thursday evening introduced at City Hall as Andrew "Five Head" Lewis; his baby's mother Georgia Ried (Jamaican-born) residing in New York; his Manager, Mr Nelson Fernandez; Head Trainer, Mr Angel De Jesus; other trainers Mr Qunito Soto, Mr Edgar Sanchez; and his friend Mr. Feisal Ali, another pillar of support.

An eminently elated Georgia, visiting Guyana for the first time, appeared very much 'at home' with the staff.

Commenting on the depth of her joy and satisfaction over Lewis' victory and homecoming, she said: "I feel tremendously overwhelmed."

She said it was something they had both been looking forward to for the last four years.

"I always tell him - endure, train hard, and I know...you'll get your dream."

She said he told her he'd dreamed that one day he'd get a big motorcade coming home, and today he's got it.

"It's very nice of the Guyanese putting forward all this for him, and I feel so pleased at their welcoming me. It's very nice."

Georgia said that even though she's not Guyanese the people have been treating her so nice over here.

"It's like family, 'cause we're from the Caribbean."

She ended: "Love you people of Guyana!"

Lewis wanted to stay around longer but other commitments pulled him away and soon he was off - to share the sweet joys of his homecoming with the thousands of other Guyanese revelling in his historic achievement.