Eugene Francis Correia – A distinguished son of the Soil

May 08, 2016 APNU Column, Features / Columnists

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Tomorrow, Monday May 9, 2016, Ogle International Airport will be renamed the Eugene Francis Correia International Airport.
Eugene Francis Correia, though not familiar to the modern Guyanese society, is no less an outstanding son of the soil.  He can be called one of the most distinguished national figures in Guyana, whose contributions to the local aviation sector, to politics, in the commercial sector and in the National Assembly cannot be overemphasised. But who really was the Eugene Francis Correia?
Eugene was born on August 21, 1899 to Antonio Correia and Maria Rodrigues and was one of nine children, having three brothers and five sisters. He received his education at the Buxton and Friendship Roman Catholic School.
On May 19, 1926, he married Alexandrina, the daughter of Manuel Gomez, who was also a merchant at that time. That union bore five children.  He is survived by two of those children; Margo and Mary Wanda. Joan, Mona, Eugene Francis, are deceased.
Mr. Correia, rose from humble beginnings to be named the first Guyanese Minister, with responsibility for Communications and Aviation. He served in this position from December 31, 1964 to October 1968 and Minister of Works and Hydraulics from November 4, 1968 to December 1968.
He was regarded as a pioneer in the local aviation sector, and was one of the few persons from then British Guiana, who had travelled to the United Kingdom in the 1930s to obtain their Private Pilot Licence.
The Parliamentary Library records Eugene Correia as becoming actively involved in politics in the early 1950s, first as a founder and Executive Member of the United Democratic Party (U.D.P.), which was to eventually merge with the Peoples National Congress in 1961.
He was elected to serve in the Legislative Council following the suspension of the Constitution of British Guiana in the year 1953 and on Monday April 27 of that same year, he was among 131 politicians who presented themselves as Candidates for Representation of the People of the Colony of British Guiana.
As a Member of the Legislative Council – Member of Parliament for Bartica and Potaro, he served from May 18, 1953 to December 21, 1953. He served as a Nominated Unofficial Member from January 1954 to June 28, 1957. Correia was once the longest serving legislator in Guyana, only to be outdone by the late Dr Cheddi Jagan for time served.
He served as a Member of Parliament from October 1961 to September 1964. He also served as Member of Parliament January 1969 up until his death on January 23, 1973.
Eugene Francis Correia had a long and very productive legislative career and during his tenure he participated in many ground breaking pieces of legislation that were transformative. We list just a few of them here;
Guianization of Public Service (Hansard of the Legislative Council of British Guiana Official Report April 25, 1956 to June 28, 1957, page 1165) – November 9th, 1956
Hydro-Electric Power Bill (Hansard of the Legislative Council of British Guiana Official Report April 25, 1956 to June 28, 1957, page 1224) – November 22, 1956
Alumina Project in British Guiana (Hansard of the Legislative Council of British Guiana Official Report April 25, 1956 to June 28, 1957, page 1371) – December 19, 1956
Agreement with BWI Airways (Hansard of the Legislative Council of British Guiana Official Report April 25, 1956 to June 28, 1957, page 1568) – January 25, 1957
Purchase of Demerara Electric Company (Hansard of the Legislative Council of British Guiana Official Report April 25, 1956 to June 28, 1957, pages 2389) – May 23, 1957
Exploration of Mazaruni Head Waters (Hansard of the Legislative Council of British Guiana Official Report April 25, 1956- June 28, 1957 page 2567-71) – June 12, 1957.
Establishment of a Chip Board Industry (Hansard of the Legislative Council of British Guiana Official Report April 25, 1956- June 28, 1957 page 2661) – June 20, 1957
Income Tax (amendment) Bill (Hansard of the Legislative Council of British Guiana Official Report October 5, 1961 to October 26, 1962 Vol 8A page 2408) – May 14, 1962
West Coast Berbice road (Hansard of the Legislative Council of British Guiana Official Report October 5, 1961 to October 26, 1962 Vol 8A page 3026) – July 20, 1962
Transport and Harbours (Amendment) Bill No. 29/1965 – October 13, 1965
Demerara River (Mackenzie) Bridge Bill No. 30/1965 – October 13, 1965

Before becoming deeply involved in the political field however, Mr. Correia, in the late 1920s and early 1930s, successfully pioneered gold and diamond mining in the hinterland and became a major trader and supplier for the industry.
Eugene Correia also ventured into other businesses such as quarrying (Itabu Quarry), the Columbite Corporation, and the growth of potatoes in the Pakaraimas, Potaro Siparuni (Region Eight).  He was an entrepreneur in his own right and was well known in the interior regions of the country.
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The biggest water sporting event in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni Region – the Bartica Regatta – was the brainchild of Correia and Oscar Smartt. There exists a plaque at the Kabouri Wall in the Mazaruni River, commemorating the construction of a ‘portage’ at that point, which was spearheaded by Evan Wong and Eugene Correia. At that time, Eugene would have been in his twenties.
Correia was also the proprietor of the Karia Hotel in Bartica, which he built with the aim of promoting tourism.
There is also a congratulatory parchment signed by the Village Council of Buxton, Friendship in 1965, which speaks glowingly of Eugene Correia’s achievement at that time.
For his contribution to Guyana, Eugene Francis Correia was awarded posthumously the Golden Arrow of Achievement, which was presented by President Arthur Chung, to a representative of his family in 1973.

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