With moving tributes and renditions the late Joseph Henry Pollydore was remembered yesterday as a masterful strategist in labour relations who was always willing to talk no matter how deep the disagreement.
Relatives, friends, trade unionists, politicians and diplomats all graced the Pollydore Auditorium at the Critchlow Labour College to pay homage to a man who dedicated his life to the cause of the working class.
Among those gathered were Prime Minister Sam Hinds, and Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manzoor Nadir. Most of the audience was clad in the traditional red tops as speaker after speaker remembered aspects of Pollydore’s life and work.
The red standard of the trade union body stood at half-mast in memory of the late union leader as books of condolence lay in waiting at the rear of the hall.
The ceremony was also attended by a group of University of Guyana students who held placards in a silent protest to the fallen labour hero as well as their recently slain colleague, Yohance Douglas. The group who entered the auditorium and initially stood silently at the back, moved to the side of the building to be more visible to the invited audience.
For close to five hours speakers from local and Caribbean trade union bodies and political parties recalled the `Caribbean Fox’ renowned for his skilful negotiating tactics.
The programme contained musical renditions by the Guyana Police Force band and the City Jammers Steel Orchestra along with songs by Tandikha and Nneka Watson and Dennis Parkinson.
Tributes were heard from the representatives of affiliate unions to the Guyana Trades Union Congress including some which are currently boycotting the umbrella body.
As was expected the first tribute was delivered by Pollydore’s old union, the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union followed by Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow’s, the Guyana Labour Union.
They were followed by the Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers, the Guyana Local Government Officers Union, the Women’s Advisory Committee of the TUC, the Trade Union Youth Movement and Critchlow Labour College of which Pollydore was secretary of the Board of Governors for many years.
Tributes were delivered by the Guyana Public Service Union, the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) and the National Union of Public Service Employees.
They were followed by the Printing Industry and Allied Workers Union, the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) and the Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union.
Later it was the turn of representatives of the General Workers Union, the Guyana Teachers Union, the University of Guyana Workers Union, the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees and the Guyana Mine and Metal Workers Union.
GAWU President, Komal Chand in his tribute to Pollydore, spoke of his dedication to the cause of workers rights and his efforts at forging unity in the trade union movement.
According to Chand, Pollydore was always dignified even in times of disagreement and he was never afraid to speak his mind in promoting the cause of those in whose voice he spoke.
CCWU General Secretary, Grandley Culbard of whose union Pollydore was a trustee, recalled his association with the trade union stalwart with whose encouragement he applied and successfully gained employment with the Caribbean Congress of Labour as its research officer.
He also recalled Pollydore’s actions in 1979 on the brief abduction of former CCWU President, Gordon Todd when on calling the then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, he forcefully demanded Todd’s release under the promise of bringing hell to the country if it was not done.
GTU General Secretary, Avril Crawford, remembered Pollydore as a man of nimble wit who had the power to analyze his opponents and lay traps for them. According to Crawford he was one of the best trade union strategists in the movement. NAACIE President, Kenneth Joseph in recalling the pivotal role played by Pollydore in forging unity in the movement, saw change in the umbrella body as a way of according him a fitting tribute.
PPP/C General Secretary, Donald Ramotar remembered the labour icon as a dedicated and purposeful convert to the idea of socialism, a course from which he never wavered despite its demise in later years.
He also spoke of his powers of concentration even at times of disagreement at which he always kept the doors of engagement open.
Recalling him as a working class intellectual, according to Ramotar, Pollydore strove to achieve the best he could get within the prevailing conditions.
PNCR General Secretary, Oscar Clarke, saw Pollydore’s stewardship of the trade union movement as one which could not be faulted since he remained always and only loyal to the workers.
According to Clarke, his party saw the late trade unionist as the most respected and respectful of his time, the embodiment of devotion to duty. Even in retirement, he said, Pollydore remained a defender of worker rights.
Former close associate and General Secretary of the CCL, George DePeana, reflecting on his working relations with Pollydore, saw him as one who was dedicated and devoted to justice and fair play.
DePeana said Pollydore always examined matters in great detail, weighing the pros and cons before deciding on a way forward.
His passing, the CCL head said, could, like a cricket match, be described as the close of an innings with both bat and ball.
Several representatives of trade union bodies in the Caribbean from Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Bermuda, Antigua and Suriname also paid tribute.
The afternoon programme climaxed with a tribute by his colleague and Assistant GTUC General Secretary, Andrew Garnett who saw him as a hero of the working class who endeared himself to the workers.
According to Garnett, his legacy was an extremely difficult one to replicate and the movement would be poorer for his passing.
Pollydore’s funeral is being held today and his body will lie in state in the auditorium from 1 pm. His funeral service will commence at 2 pm.