Dear Editor,
I learnt with much grief about the death of retired diplomat Dr. Odeen Ishmael of Britannia/ Chester, West Coast Berbice. Although I knew that he was ailing for some time, news of his death struck me like a bolt from the blue. I believe that all those who knew Odeen are equally perturbed.
Odeen was my first cousin. He was my aunt’s son. We shared the same grandfather. He was my friend, confidant and mentor. Although over the years distance separated us we maintained a strong relationship. He attended my graduation at the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in the United States of America several years ago. At the ceremony the Chairman did not initially recognize him, but halfway through the programme he realised his mistake. He then apologised for not recognizing a distinguished son of Guyana, Ambassador Dr. Odeen Ishmael and asked the Ambassador to stand up and be recognized to a loud round of applause. That was a proud and cherished moment of my life.
Odeen played the big brother and father role for us little boys living and growing up in the Britannia/Chester area. He looked out for us. He was strong on self development and urged us to have a good education. He led by example as he moved quickly from primary to high school, to university and later to the senior diplomatic arena. World renowned diplomat Sir Shridath Ramphal who was our grandfather’s friend took Odeen under his wings and gave him valuable guidance. Odeen served with excellence at the local, Caribbean and international levels, yet he did not lose the common touch. His regular groundings with persons at the grass roots level was appreciated. Veteran and eminent trade unionist Lincoln Lewis can testify to this. His call name for Odeen was Pakistan. I will not state what was the name Odeen called his friend. Certainly, it was not Lincoln but a more intimate salutation. Despite their political and other differences they remained friends for life.
Odeen was an excellent cricketer. He was an effective medium fast bowler and a power hitter at the lower order. As a small boy I witnessed many exciting battles at the Britannia Cricket Club ground between himself and another cousin, former Customs Chief Lambert Marks and others. He was also a cricket historian. In many issues and concerns particularly as it relates to cricket he was our Larry Page and Sergey Brin, our Google. Whenever as boys we had serious arguments and unanswered questions about cricket we would rush to Odeen to settle the issues and for him to supply the correct answers. Always with a smile on his face he would dive into his Wisden or one of his many scrap books with newspaper clippings for answers. That was the manner of man Odeen was.
He was presidential material. I can vividly recall several years ago when he was in his prime and his country’s Ambassador at Washington DC in the United States of America and General and Regional Elections were in the air, some of his party supporters started chanting, “Odeen for President. Odeen for President.” Shortly afterwards he became Guyana’s Ambassador to Venezuela and was later posted to Kuwait where he retired from the diplomatic service.
Odeen had clean hands, a cool head, a warm heart and a passion for his job and Allah.
To his sorrowing family, brothers, sisters, relatives and friends I hasten to express my heartfelt sympathy. May his soul rest in peace.
Yours faithfully,
Clinton Conway
