Hundreds in Georgetown bid farewell to `the Elder Statesman’
By Linda Rutherford
Guyana Chronicle
September 7, 2003
Extended members of the Reid family being led in song by the scion of the late Dr Ptolemy Reid, Dr Herman Reid (extreme left), during the religious half of the memorial service at St George’s Cathedral.
After the service: Among those bearing the casket are clockwise from left Mr. Cammie Ramsaroop; Mr. Ranji Chandisingh; Mr. Hamilton Green; Mr. Winston Murray; and Mr. Robert Corbin, all former ministers of government during the PNC administration.
Dr Herman Reid as he read his father’s eulogy.
THE inclement weather of the past few weeks, held off admirably yesterday, as scores thronged the St. George’s Cathedral, seat of the Anglican Diocese here, to bid farewell to the late former Prime Minister, Dr Ptolemy Reid. It was the first leg of an elaborate two-day funeral arrangement that would span two of the country’s three counties.
Known in political circles as ‘the Elder Statesman’, or more affectionately as ‘Ptolo’, Reid, who had been ailing in the last few years, died in his sleep last Tuesday night, at the age of 85, at his home at Atlantic Gardens, some 20 minutes or so from the capital, Georgetown, on the lower East Coast in the county of Demerara.
A veterinarian by profession, Reid, who took up politics late in life at the ripe old age of 40, is scheduled to be buried sometime today in his hometown, Dartmouth, in the county of Essequibo, after being cremated, as was his lifelong wish, at the Union foreshore, in the same region.
His interment, on a plot of land once belonging to his late mother and on which a nursery school now stands, was preceded yesterday by a memorial service at the St. George’s Cathedral, where his remains was scheduled to be open to public viewing prior to the ceremony.
By 09:20hrs, when the Sunday Chronicle arrived, quite a gathering had already turned up at the Church on Company Path in the city, to either catch a last glimpse of the man, whose no-nonsense manner was legend, or to participate in the service which was scheduled to commence at 11:00hrs.
Among those seen huddled in conversation on the church steps, while awaiting the arrival of the funeral cortege, were party stalwarts, Haslyn Parris, Alan Munroe, and Oscar Clarke, all executive members of the former People’s National Congress (PNC) now People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) to which he belonged, and once served as Deputy Leader and General Secretary among the several portfolios he held in his 30-odd years in politics.
Down in the central aisle keeping a tight rein on things and ensuring that everything went like clockwork was another party faithful, Amna Ally. She was being ably assisted by other female members of the party.
Perched on an easel out front, between the altar and the first row of pews, was a life-like portrait of the man, looking hale and hearty like his old formidable self in a light blue trademark shirt-jac and carrying a wooden cane in his right hand.
In the distance, the eerie wailing of a siren signalled the imminent arrival of the corpse. It was precisely 09:45hrs when the hearse pulled up outside the Church, thereby causing a flurry of activity among the press of humanity gathered on the steps and growing by the minute. The viewing was about to begin.
As he lay in his casket at the entrance to the Church, a mere shadow of his former robust self, the mourners were made to file past his remains, clockwise, so as to avoid congestion and give everyone a chance to pay their respects.
At 10:00hrs sharp, PNCR Deputy Leader, Mr. Vincent Alexander rose and approached the podium, thereby signalling that the ceremony was about to begin.
Noting that the activity consisted of two parts, the first of which was the viewing of the body and the paying of tributes in different forms, Alexander, whose job it was to walk the congregation through this aspect of the proceedings, set things in motion by offering his own observations of the man he thought of as a “colossus in his time” who not only “proved to be a true patriot” but also “dedicated his life to the growth and development of this country.”
This was followed by tributes from nephew, Oswald Reid, who spoke glowingly of his uncle’s many achievements, “as an outstanding veterinarian, and political leader who created vision and gave hope to many, [and whose] legacy [in the field] of veterinary medicine, integrity, frankness and courage for a cause he believed in and a value system that cannot be denigrated” were well known and well documented; and Father George Kanhai, Vicar of St. James the Great Church where Reid and his late wife worshipped while he lived at Supply, on the East Bank Demerara.
Also paying tribute in song, something Reid is said to have greatly admired but was lame at doing, were baritones Terry Fox and David Dewar; and Dr Maxine Parris-Aaron, on behalf of the Guyana Veterinarians Association, and dramatic poetess, Ms Yvonne Drakes, whose frenetic search “fuh meh hero, a man wha know de meanin’ of being his brother’s keeper” led to an animated conversation with the late founder and leader of the PNC, Forbes Burnham, who preceded Reid to glory 18 years ago.
Noting that Reid’s passing “truly marks the end of a memorable era” Lincoln Lewis, who spoke on behalf of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) of which he is General Secretary, said he was an “unlikely politician” whose “sheer humility was perhaps his most enduring quality.”
Such was the respect Reid commanded, Lewis said, that he has no recollection of his now famous lisp ever being the butt of any joke in an era when theatre is quick to take the mickey out of public figures.
Education Minister, Dr Henry Jeffrey, said to be favourite of Reid’s, shared with those gathered at the service his many memorable experiences working with him back in the 70s, using little anecdotes to enliven the story.
Prime Minister Mr. Samuel Hinds, spoke on behalf of the State, acknowledged Reid’s sterling service to this country through the various ministerial posts he held. PNCR leader, Mr. Robert Corbin, spoke on behalf of the party.
The reading of the eulogy, during the service proper, was done by son, Dr Herman Reid, who followed in his father’s footsteps to take up veterinarian medicine.
Among those present at the service were President Bharrat Jagdeo; Political Adviser on Empowerment, Mr. Odinga Lumumba; former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Aubrey Bishop; City Mayor, Mr. Hamilton Green; and his deputy, Mr. Robert Williams.
Following the funeral service, the funeral cortege proceeded to PNC/R Headquarters in Sophia for further viewing.