President attends funeral service for Norman Chapman

President David Granger yesterday attended the funeral service of Norman Chapman at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground in Linden.

Chapman, who was the owner of the ‘Son Chapman’ launch, where 43 people lost their lives when there was an explosion on the vessel in 1964 during the pre-Independence period of political upheaval, was a noteworthy contributor to the development of the town of Linden, a release from the Ministry of the Presidency said.  He died on April 21 at the age of 92.

The casket bearing the remains of the late Norman Hazelwood Amin Chapman called ‘Yacoob’ and ‘Chappy’ (Ministry of the Presidency photo)
Members of the Guyana Veterans Legion of which. Norman Chapman was once a member (Ministry of the Presidency photo)

Also among the attendees were Attorney General, Basil Williams;

Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valerie Patterson; former

PNCR Leader,  Robert Corbin; Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia

Chase-Green; former Prime Minister and Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton

Green and Regional Chairman, Rennis Morian.

The release said that Chapman served as non-commissioned officer in the South Caribbean Force during World War II and was elected to serve on the Mackenzie Village Affairs Committee and as treasurer of the PNCR’s Upper Demerara constituency in the 1960s. He was also a prominent businessman, having established Mackenzie’s first department store, Chapman’s Enterprises and Electrical Services.