Latest update January 3rd, 2025 4:30 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

When a True Patriot Passes On…

Feb 12, 2012 Letters

 

 

Dear Editor,
Permit me to express sentiments that only I could share with you since they are solely my reaction to the situation at hand. In my estimation, the late Executive Chairman of the former Guyana Fisheries Ltd., Mr. Robert Williams was a true Guyanese Patriot. Regardless of the various definitions of what constitutes patriotism, it is undeniable that the man I knew deserves a “perfect salute” as he passes on.
What makes the man a “True Patriot?” Perhaps a great number of things but above them all was his genuine concern for his nation and the natives he loved so dearly. Throughout the years I had known the man he never displayed any rancor against a single fellow Guyanese.
It was February of 1982 when I first met Minister of Fisheries, Robert Williams, a former police constable who President Forbes Burnham considered competent enough to hold a ministerial portfolio. Initially as a Fisheries Officer, Minister Williams and I developed a rapport that caused him to recruit me over to Guyana Fisheries Ltd. as the Fleet Manager for the (18) shrimp trawlers the corporation owned at that time. Eventually, as a result of very demanding work on the part of other colleagues and expatriate consultants, Robert Williams chartered new waters battling the rigors of satisfying an IDB grant to purchase thirty-three (33) shrimp trawlers from Bender Shipbuilders Company, Inc., in Mobile, Alabama, USA.
That new fleet of vessels became my responsibility under Chairman Williams as my functional superior. Robert Williams and I worked with a great support team of other patriots like Ms. Hyacinth Jordan, AA, to make the fish “Banga Mary” available to the public at a price of then one dollar ($1.00) per pound. However, the most outstanding patriotic display Robert performed was when he agreed to let me team up with two vessels belonging to the American-owned company Georgetown Seafoods Ltd., along with two more from Guyana Fisheries Ltd. Accompanied by armed personnel from the Marine Corp. of the Guyana Defence Force, the exercise was to “round up” seven (7) Korean owned vessels that were illegally shrimping in Guyana’ Exclusive Economic Zone of our territorial waters.
It was a life threatening exercise at that time, and it is only ironic that at the time of Robert William’s passing on, that piracy on the high seas is once again a part of the news headlines in Guyana, Robert must have been agonizing at this state of affairs he considered to be despicable.
As I reflect on the man, I recall the morning of August 06, 1985 at around 10:00 a.m. when I was standing at the left side of his desk and he answered the phone directly, by-passing the secretary. When the conversation over the phone ended, Mr. Robert Williams turned to me and said “Neil. The Chief died earlier today at the Georgetown Hospital.” That was one of the most memorable moments I shared closely with him. Mr. Robert Williams, was many things but above them all he was a Guyanese Patriot, and when a True Patriot passes on, he deserves nothing less than a perfect salute.
Robert my friend, I salute you, from a distance!
Neilson O. Wray

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Tonight: Sparta Boss goes up against Bent Street ‘A’ for K&S National Futsal title

Tonight: Sparta Boss goes up against Bent Street ‘A’ for K&S...

Jan 03, 2025

Lady Royals and Kanaimas to clash for Female championship Kaieteur Sports- The inaugural Kashif and Shanghai/One Guyana National Futsal Championship, which kicked off at the National Gymnasium with...
Read More
Botafgo pummel Milerock, 11-7, to become new UDFA Christmas Futsal Champions 

Botafgo pummel Milerock, 11-7, to become new UDFA...

Jan 03, 2025

BCB player transfer window opens for 2025 

BCB player transfer window opens for 2025 

Jan 03, 2025

Archery Guyana National 2-Day Indoor Senior Barebow Open, shoots off January 11 

Archery Guyana National 2-Day Indoor Senior...

Jan 03, 2025

Grandmaster Jose Luis Montes to lead Self-Defense Seminar

Grandmaster Jose Luis Montes to lead Self-Defense...

Jan 03, 2025

Keevin Allicock – the next torchbearer for Guyanese professional boxing

Keevin Allicock – the next torchbearer for...

Dec 31, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]