Dear Editor,
It is with great sadness that I learnt of the passing of Comrade Isahak Basir of Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast. Isahak Basir was a friend, comrade and brother to countless PPP and PPP/Civic supporters. I am grateful that I have had the honour and pleasure of serving with him in the fight for freedom and democracy. I am also proud to have served with him as we worked to reconstruct our country in the post-1992 period.
Comrade Basir, a true disciple of Cheddi Jagan, was highly educated by the school of life. He paid a lot of attention to studying and propagating the goals of the People’s Progressive Party. He was articulate with a deep understanding of politics, culture and religion. He could have held his own in any company.
Knowledge for him was to serve a purpose. That purpose was the welfare of the Guyanese people. He was an activist, an organiser and educator of the PPP.
His work saw him serving in the National Assembly of our land. It was a difficult period in our history. Comrade Basir took his activism to the National Assembly and had several epic confrontations with the PNC and the then Speaker of the Parliament.
He was shot several times in broad daylight on a busy ‘steamer day’ at Adventure on the Essequibo Coast. It was his strength, both physical and political, and his love of life that saw him pulling through a near death attack. No one was ever charged with the attempted murder.
Isahak Basir served his party and people with great distinction. Basir was one of a few comrades who educated his family in the ideology of the PPP and encouraged them to be activists and fighters for peace and social progress. His whole family, immediate and extended, stood firmly with the PPP through thick and thin. He will always be remembered by those of us who shared his life.
On behalf of my family, I extend deepest sympathy to a comrade whose work and sacrifices has helped greatly in pushing our country from dictatorship to democracy and prosperity under the PPP/C administration.
Rest in peace dear comrade and thanks for a job well done.
Yours faithfully,
Donald Ramotar
