Many people cried silently while others looked rather pensive at the Square where, on so many occasions, Mr Hoyte delivered moving speeches at rallies staged by his party, evoking noisy and cheering responses from enthusiastic and effervescent crowds.

But it was different on the funeral day, with the throng in awesome reverence, the atmosphere was solemn and the mood rather sombre as mourners filed past the catafalque with Mr Hoyte’s remains in a wooden casket.

Below are comments by some of the persons who waited their turn in lines to get a glimpse of the fallen hero.

* Lennox Merchant (Muslim ex-soldier):”I feel the death of Mr Hoyte is a great loss to this nation, in that he was like a stabiliser. He was a man held in high esteem. He was a man of love, a man for all peoples and a man with Guyana at heart. With the passing of his great soul, Guyanese, in general, will be missing a great input into our total, political, cultural life and society at large. What we have to do is strive
for maximum unity and live life as Guyanese, not compartmentalised but with the example that he has shown us in his lifetime.”

· Esther Perry (senior citizen and North Road neighbour):”I have known Mr Hoyte ever since he was a young man and he was very nice. He was my neighbour. Guyana has lost a good soul. May his soul rest in peace.”

· Robert Burgess (overseas-based Guyanese):”Mr Hoyte was a true son of the soil, noble statesman, technocrat, peacemaker and national healer. He had a great vision, which he vigorously put to work for this country. Daring to blaze new trails, he brought democracy back to Guyana, put the economy on sound footing and opened up a free market system for Guyana. These are things from which all Guyana has benefitted. He was a man for all Guyanese and for all seasons. May Guyana grow from strength to strength and Guyanese not allow themselves to be racially divided.”

· L. Bancroft :“ When I first heard of Mr Hoyte's death, I was devastated, but I am taking comfort in the fact that he was good man and I know that God will grant him eternal rest.”

· Esther Thompson:”Mr Hoyte was a true and illustrious son of the soil. He has done his job and he did it well. He was a man with the interest of the people and the economy of this country at heart. What would we do without him?”

· Karen Adams:” Today, I remember when Hugh Desmond Hoyte became President, when he brought back flour to the people of Guyana. Oh! It was a joy in our hearts. We were so glad to learn of that and, today, we have happy memories of him. On behalf of myself and the comrades from Grove (East Bank Demerara), may God bless his soul and may whoever takes up the mantle of Hugh Desmond Hoyte continue to be of good service to the people of Guyana.”

· Julia Bruce:” I feel very sad, very hurt because we have lost a good man and I hope that whoever is going to take his place is going to stand up for Guyana the way he did.”