They exited the stage in 2014

Well-known Guyanese who have served key sectors with distinction transitioned during 2014, several of them losing their battles with cancer and leaving behind their countrymen and women to grapple with life’s vicissitudes and successes. Stabroek News reflects on their lives.

 

January 8th 2014 -Terry Holder- The veteran broadcaster and former Deputy General Manager of the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), lost his battle with cancer at the age of 73.

His son Dwayne remembered his father as “giving, loving to people and loved people, he loved sports mostly cricket but his heart was broadcasting and public relations.”

Terry Holder
Terry Holder

Holder served as General Manager of the then Guyana Broadcasting Corporation and was a major contributor in the formation of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union.

He was also a cricket fanatic who served as the Public Relations Officer on the Guyana Cricket Board for over 15 years. For this, Holder was remembered by past President of the board Chetram Singh as a dedicated and hard worker, who was instrumental in local cricket’s development.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20150101debbieMarch 21st 2014 Deborah Backer – Cancer also took the life of this daughter of the soil who was only 54 years old at the time. Sharp, witty, fierce yet sensitive and patriotic were some of the words used to describe the former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly who her fellow colleagues lamented would be missed most, in the House, for her sharp wit and quick thinking. Her close friends have indelible memories of a woman who they say had an Indomitable and beautiful spirit.

The mother of two fell ill late in 2013 and subsequently resigned from the National Assembly where she had been a member since 1998 serving as a PNCR and later APNU member.

An attorney at law by profession, Backer was also remembered for her commitment to Guyanese as a whole and the fact that many times she represented persons free of cost and found it hard to say no to someone in need.

In 2012, APNU put her name up to become the first ever female Speaker of the National Assembly but eventually she withdrew and the party instead supported the AFC’s candidate, current Speaker Raphael Trotman.

Backer had later told this newspaper that while she was disappointed at a personal level at not being elected Speaker, “… The bigger picture is if you are talking about shared governance you are going to have to yield sometimes when you feel you are right and know you are right, and sometimes even have the greater… numerical strength,” she had said during that interview.

She had noted that politics was a “difficult thing; you have to give and you have to take and you have to yield at times, and many times yielding is the person who is in the stronger position.

“I would hope that the message that it should send to people is that one, the sky is the limit for women and two whatever career… you take you will have stumbling blocks along the way but the important thing is to stick to it and keep pressing forward.”

 

 

 

20150101ronApril 27th 2014 Ron Webster- The then Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) was yet another notable figure who had cancer claim his life. He was 72 years old and died at a city hospital while undergoing post-operation care from a surgery he had done overseas.

He served as the PSC’s vice chairman from 1998-1999 and became chairman in 2012 and was subsequently re-elected. At the time of his death, he was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Containers Incorporated as well as Managing Director of Technology Investments and Management Incorporated.

President Donald Ramotar reflected on Webster’s contribution to Guyana’s development, especially in the private sector as he said “He left an indelible print on the private sector society, which will be sorely missed. Mr. Webster will always be remembered as a genuine partner in national development, a true patriot and as someone who has given unequivocal support, above narrow, selfish interests.”

In addition to his various private sector positions, Webster demonstrated his dexterity on many Boards including that of the Bauxite Industry Development Company Inc. where he served as Chairman of the Board from 1999 to 2005. His friends also noted that Webster also served as Director on the Board of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute and Chairman of the Board of the New GMC.  He was also a Director on the Board of the Aroaima Mining Company from 2004 and served as Chairman of both the Board of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission from 2005 to 2010 and the Environmental Protection Agency.

 

 

20150101lawrenceMay 7th 2014 Lawrence Williams-Bank of Guyana (BoG) Governor Lawrence Williams who had been battling with cancer for a while lost the fight on May 7th last year at the age of 60. Deputy Governor of the BOG, Gobind Ganga, told this newspaper that Williams’ qualities contributed to the discipline and progress at the bank over the years where he had served in various capacities over the last three decades.

Ganga, who worked with Williams for around 20 years, said Williams was a friend to many in the bank and was, as a result, well loved. “The bank will greatly miss him” he had said.

Former Chairman of the Private Sector Commission Ramesh Dookhoo said Williams had a thorough understanding of the technical aspects of Guyana’s financial sector and that he was quite patient in explaining matters of importance to members of the private sector.

In the general scheme of things, Dookhoo said, Williams was able to effectively analyse the financial circumstances of the economy, and then took the actions necessary to maintain the economy’s stability. Specifically, Dookhoo credited Williams with maintaining the flow and stability of the US Dollar in Guyana’s economy.

 

 

 

20150101rogerJune 7th 2014 Roger Moore- At age 56, Veteran broadcaster Roger Moore went to his eternal home, passing away in the city of his birth, London, England. Moore had been for many years suffering complications after prolonged illness. He had migrated to Guyana with his family as a teen and had always referred to Guyana as home as he spent most of his adult life here. He returned to his country of birth in 2005 for medical checkups and was advised by his physicians to remain in the country for treatment as he was diagnosed with a series of illnesses, including Type 2 diabetes.

The former host of the ‘Come Home to Roger’ television show, which was later named ‘At Home with Roger,’ worked from 1982 to 1995 at the then Guyana Broadcasting Corporation. “He read the news, hosted interviews, produced documentaries, conducted live outside broadcasts, talk shows and produced and anchored GBC’s Action Line.

His friend Enrico Woolford has described Moore as being very passionate about race-related issues, having experiencing firsthand the support his homeland gave to Zimbabwe, when it was Rhodesia and South Africa in its struggle with apartheid. “Roger was very conscious about race… and coming into the Guyana context he was very passionate, when anyone attempted to be superior, to voice his concern. He felt whoever you are you should not use majority race to oppress, suppress or repress … and if he made anyone feel uncomfortable it was because of this belief,” he asserted.

Civil activist and freelance journalist Mark Benschop, another friend of Moore who kept in constant contact with him right up to his death, described him as a compassionate soul. “Gosh! Roger was a very warm and friendly person. He was warm and always giving. He would give you his last $100 if he knew it was something you needed,” he fondly recalled.

 

 

20150101abeebJuly 22nd 2014 Habeeb Khan – Renowned comedy actor Habeeb Khan lost the battle to asthmatic bronchitis, passing away in his sleep at his Friendship, East Bank Demerara home at age 78.

Khan became a household name after he appeared in the local film “If Wishes Were Horses” as well as scores of television commercials inclusive of the unforgettable pawn shop commercial in which he played the role of a patient who had lost his memory. He was also involved in many Guyanese satirical shows, including “Nothing to laugh about” and the Mori J’ Von Comedy Jam. He was honoured for entertaining the regional industry for many years.

His comedic ways were evident even at his home, when he lived in a fenceless house with a gate well secured by “a big chain and padlock,” his sister in law Jennifer Khan told Stabroek News.

His niece Haleema Khan said that Khan was suffering from asthmatic bronchitis due to his smoking habit and died in his sleep. Haleema said that her uncle lived a happy, but humble and simple life. She recalled that he once told her that he had 16 children with about four women. She said that Khan has three sons all named Habeeb Khan Jnr.

In the 2008 interview with Stabroek News, Khan had said that it was the biggest joke of his life that he started smoking at 12 years and was then suffering from respiratory problems. Then he joked, he was not ready for the Sandy’s Funeral Home.

Further he had explained that his career as a comedian began from the moment he started crying after his birth. “My philosophy in life is that humour is the safety valve of piled-up emotions, and if you could laugh at a situation it can ease it,” he said.

Khan said that he imitated his father as a child. “One day when I was eight years old, my father was carrying on and I started imitating him, and my father asked me if he behaved liked that, and I said yes, I am exactly you. So he [his father] went on to ask why I was exactly him, and I responded by telling him, ‘like father like son.’”

 

 

20150101victorSeptember 2nd 2014 Victor Ramraj –This Literary academic, who spent many years lecturing at the University of Calgary in Canada is remembered by his friends for his vast knowledge of English literature and his unselfish efforts in fostering the literary development of persons he encountered. He died and was buried in that country but his memories saw tributes paid from the diaspora. “I am personally indebted to Victor for generously inviting me to contribute an essay to his guest-edition of Ariel in 1977, and for serving as External Examiner for one of my PhD students. In addition to his achievement as a teacher, scholar, author, editor and administrator, he was generous to a fault, professionally cooperative, socially affable and a loyal friend,” his longtime friend Frank Birbalsingh wrote.

Renowned West Indian writer David Dabydeen reminisced on a man who after their first meeting was so impacting that the friendship lasted until he died last year. “I first met him at a Commonwealth Literature conference in Spain, in 1984. I was a new, nervous academic, with a thin publication. He was immediately good to me, calming my nerves, reassuring me that my presentation was worthwhile… Yes, Victor’s presence was intoxicating. He was a man of wit, humour and great conviviality,” he wrote.

“He loved being in Guyana, meeting students, friends, family, and contributing to the literary life of the country. He was a special scholar and man. I loved the little time I spent with him at various academic and literary venues. I wish I had had more time and opportunities to meet him,” he added.

 

 

20150101elvin September 24th 2014 Elvin Mc David – The former political advisor to then Prime Minister Forbes Burnham died in Jamaica after a series of prolonged illnesses.

He was 70 years old.

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) in a statement said that in addition to serving as political assistant to Burnham, Mc David also had stints as minister of Information and Culture and ambassador to the Soviet Union.

He is credited with much of the pioneering work for the hosting of the first Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta) and the establishment of the Guyana National Service (GNS).

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rashleigh Jackson who also served during the Forbes Burnham administration told Stabroek News that Mc David was very close to Burnham and was one of the main founders of the Burnham foundation. He said that Mc David’s passing was sad and he would be remembered by politicians for the role he played in helping to advise Burnham.

Mc David was born in Georgetown on June 10, 1944 and was educated at St Mary’s RC School, St Stanislaus College, University of Birmingham and the University of the West Indies.

 

 

20150101rafiq October 10th 2014 Rafiq Khan –  Rafiq Khan, one of Guyana’s first radio broadcasters, died on October 10 in Kingston, Jamaica at the age of 82.

Khan was admitted to the University of West Indies Hospital with an apparent chikungunya infection and died from other complications.

Advertising executive Vic Insanally described Khan to Stabroek News as the “original” broadcaster who was the best Guyana ever had. “I first met Rafiq in the early sixties when I joined broadcasting and what I noticed about him was he was good at recognising the talents in people and pushing them in that direction. He was the original and he was the best,” Insanally said.

He said Khan had told him that he was working on compiling an autobiography and he was therefore shocked to learn of his death when “he was so full of life.”

“A good manager and a good mentor. A leader in the early days and a friend,” is how Consultant Carlton James remembered him. “It was very easy as the years went on to become friends with someone who shares the same goals. Rafiq knew broadcasting and he was the mentor of probably most of broadcasters in Guyana,” he added.

Khan joined the broadcasting fraternity at the age of 17. He held the post of Programme Director in Radio Demerara in 1956. Later, he went to work as the Management Consultant to the Rediffusion Group of Broadcasting Systems in the Caribbean.

In 1979, he began a period of 13 years with UNESCO, 10 of them as Regional Communication Adviser for the Caribbean. He was also lecturer at the University of Guyana and at the University of the West Indies, teaching what he knew best—broadcasting.

In recent years, Khan paid tribute at the passing of several well-known local broadcasters, including Olga Lopes-Seales, Ayube Hamid and Hugh Cholmondeley. Earlier last year, he delivered a passionate and well-received obituary on the passing of another renowned former radio figure, Terry Holder.

On that occasion, he stated: “Fossils like me are long forgotten. But Hugh Cholmondeley strove, failed and is gone. Terry Holder agonised, failed and is now gone. And what of my other protégés – Vic Insanally, Ron Robinson, Rovin Deodat, Carlton James, who are still among you? Perhaps it is more expedient to send them too into pre-mature fossilage?

“Terry Holder, among the last holdouts from an era when standards really mattered, lamented what had become of his beloved country as a whole… while I, an ancient mariner with a narrower perspective, have been searching in vain, amidst the tawdriness of a garbage and concrete jungle, for the Garden City of my youth.

“Is anyone even noticing that the philistines are taking over our city and our country? Even in the little elegant avenue where Terry and I last lived, I see the philistines rising.

“And I am left to wonder how paltry is any tribute of soon-forgotten words to such as Terence Holder?

How long will we ignore our prophets? When will we gather the collective will to stand behind them and say: Enough?”

He said that Holder had been passionate about the disintegration of standards and feared that they might be beyond reclaim. “He feared that the mediocrity of yesterday had become the excellence of today.

 

 

20150101navinOctober 28th 2014 Navin Chandarpal Hailed as a fighter against oppression Presidential advisor and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) stalwart Navin Chandarpal passed away at age 63. He had been ailing from cancer and had been treated abroad earlier last year but returned to Guyana in July to convalesce at home.

Considered a member of the PPP’s ‘old guard’ and close to the late PPP leaders Dr Cheddi and Janet Jagan, Chandarpal was welcomed back to the Office of the President by President Donald Ramotar shortly after he was elected at the 2011 general elections. He was serving Ramotar as adviser on Sustainable Development, Science and Technology. He had previously been sacked by former president Bharrat Jagdeo. Chandarpal, at the time of his passing, was a member of the PPP’s Central and Executive committees. He had gotten the sixth most votes at the party’s congress in August, 2013 at Port Mourant, Berbice.

Chandarpal was married to Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the women’s arm of the PPP Indra Chandarpal and they have two children.

Tributes had poured in for the man who many remembered, respected and hailed as a patriot and true friend.

The PPP said its Central Committee and entire membership was saddened by Chandarpal’s passing, while noting that he had played a key role “in the struggle against imperialism and dictatorial rule” in the country. “This is indeed a great loss to the Party but his sterling contributions; his dedication, commitment and loyalty to the Party will no doubt serve to inspire others in the struggle for a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Guyana,” it said.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds told Stabroek News that Chandarpal’s passing was a great loss to the country and to him as a friend. “He was someone who was very much concerned about the sustainable development of our natural resources and about his country… He was a quite faithful, honest friend. He didn’t hold malice and have always accepted that there could be differences because people are unique,” he said.

The PNCR also commented and said that Chandarpal was well liked and respected across all political lines. It said he would be remembered for his principled positions, his wit, and fearless and very amiable character. The party described him as a friend to all and fierce fighter against injustice and oppression.

 

 20150101coxNovember 29th 2014 Eileen Cox. The Consumer rights activist and former Stabroek News columnist Eileen Cox passed away at the age of 96, peacefully in her sleep, her daughter Sharon Westmaas had told Stabroek News.

According to Westmaas, her mother was a well-known figure in Guyana and notably formed the Guyana Consumers Association and later became a columnist with this newspaper, writing under the rubric ‘Consumers Concerns’ for several years.

Cox had also worked in a number of other countries including England and Trinidad and Tobago, but Guyana had always been her true love and she was bent on bettering the lives of all Guyanese.

Even as a schoolgirl, Cox had been intent on studying and working in Guyana, and as an adult, she spent about thirty years as Editor of Hansard in the Parliament Office.

Along with her numerous professional accomplishments, Cox was also lauded as a wonderful and inspirational mother. “She wasn’t the type of motherly mother that was typical of her generation; she was always a working mother but she was always there for me and helped me to find my way. She was a wonderful mother and she was an example to me that I could always be different; I didn’t have to be the same and she allowed me to be different and experiment and take risks. It caused me to be independent now as an older woman,” 63-year-old Westmaas said.

“I hope that she will be remembered with much love from all Guyanese and [they] will take her as a good example of what a Guyanese should be: hardworking, good company, and honest – absolutely honest to a tee. Honest and generous, that’s my mother and you couldn’t find a better person,” Westmaas she added.

Other notable persons who died last year are former Assistant Commissioner of Police and Deputy Immigration Officer Carlotta Dodson, former Chief Magistrate William Jacob Alexander, banker Laurence Clarke, local performer Delma Lynch, Cecil Carl Cunha and former Stabroek News Columnist John Warrington.