National awardee and councillor of the Mayor and City Council, Premchand Richard Dass was laid to rest on Friday and many of his close colleagues, including President Donald Ramotar reflected on his life and work.
Dass served with distinction in the field of politics, trade unionism and academics, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said in a press release.
At his Eccles, East Bank Demerara residence, one of several locations where his body was taken, the life and accomplishments of Dass whom many consider a protégé to former President and PPP co-founder Dr. Cheddi Jagan, were chronicled.
President Ramotar who was an assistant to Dass in the re-organisation of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO) of the PPP in the 1960s described his unmatched personality as a quality much needed today.
“Comrade Prem” as he was known had no foes, even though resolute in expressing opinions and views on issues, according to President Ramotar who recalled some of his personal associations.
“We had some big arguments because he had some strong views on many issues and sometimes we didn’t agree on strategies and tactics. I remember some of the big debates that we had at that point in time,” President Ramotar.
“A citizen of extraordinary value to society,” was the sentiment expressed by Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green to describe Dass’ service in the Mayor and City Council.
“He articulated with precision, dignity and clarity… there was nothing which he said that could be challenged,” Mayor Green said.
His birth in 1942, the era of the Second World War and upbringing under tyrannical circumstances on the sugar estate at Albion, Berbice fashioned the life of empathy towards sugar workers that he lived, according to President Ramotar.
“People like Prem, whatever political positions they have, they reach across lines in our country and that is what we need in a country like ours,” President Ramotar said.
During the three decades in the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union (GAWU) Dass served in different capacities; a permanent member of the union’s negotiating team and as a GAWU Field Secretary, Education and Research Officer at the Albion Estate.
Dass was conferred the Golden Arrow of Achievement, and he was also a Long Service Awardee of the PYO and the PPP and a Dedicated Services Awardee of GAWU, the release added.
