Essequibians bid farewell to their top 'countryman'
--- body of Dr. Reid cremated
By Rajendra Prabhulall
Guyana Chronicle
September 8, 2003
THOUSANDS of Essequibians yesterday turned up at the Eighth of May Community High School in Dartmouth and at La Union foreshore on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam, to bid farewell to former Prime Minister Dr Ptolemy Reid.
Mourners, including hundreds of villagers dressed in black and white, packed the upper flat of the school building before the start of the funeral service, and several hundreds more stood outside and on the public road.
The already somber atmosphere at the funeral service turned even more emotional as speakers paid tribute on the life of Dr. Reid, who held the positions of Prime Minister, First Vice President and General Secretary of the People's National Congress (PNC) in the era of the Forbes Burnham administration.
Leader of the PNC Reform, Mr. Robert Corbin in a tribute on behalf of the Party. Said, Dr. Reid will never be forgotten by the Party. According to him, Dr. Reid will never die in the memory of the people he worked with.
The Opposition Leader also took the opportunity to thank the family of the late Dr Reid for sharing him with the villagers of Dartmouth, the PNCR and Guyana as a whole.
Chairman of the funeral service, Mr. Rupert Osborne, called on two prominent citizens of Dartmouth, Mr. Cornel Damon and Mr. Marcus Peters, to ensure that the photograph of the late Dr Reid is placed in the Eighth of May Community High School and Flora Nursery School as a tribute to the great statesman, who was born in Dartmouth.
Among those bearing the casket containing the remains of the former Prime Minister were Mr. Corbin and former Chairman of Region Two, Mr. Ivor Allen.
The casket was then transported by a hearse to La Union foreshore, located several miles from Dartmouth, followed a large crowd travelling by trucks and cars.
Among others representing the PNC/R were General Secretary, Mr. Oscar Clarke; Members of Parliament, Ms Clarissa Riehl; Mr. Vincent Alexander, Dr Deryck Bernard and Ms Amna Ally.
Representatives of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government at the funeral service were Region Two Vice Chairman, Mr. Vishnu Samaroo; Parliamentarian Mr. Heerall Mohan; former Chairman of the National Congress of Local Democratic Organs (NCLDO), Mr. Isahack Basir; senior organiser of the PPP/C in Region Two, Mr. Parmanand Persaud, and Chairman of the Paradise/Evergreen Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Mr. Cornel Damon.
As fire consumed Dr. Reid's body at La Union foreshore, the large turnout of PNC/R supporters emotionally hugged each other.
And, as the smoke filled the clear blue sky, the Atlantic Ocean waters serenely washed along the sandy beach, bringing to a final close the life of yet another of Guyana's outstanding sons.