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Ishak Basir, a true champion
DEAR EDITOR,
Ishak Basir carried himself so humbly that it was very easy to be unaware of all his accomplishments. As a political student I was very guilty of this, and it was only with all the information that I got after he died, I realized that the PPP and Guyana may have greatly undervalued the treasure we had.
Ishak Basir and I talked a lot about various things about the functions of government and its systems, and there are many things I learnt from him as his political student.
Essequibians suffered a great loss when this stalwart and a founding member of the PPP died suddenly at his home. This 85-year-old former Member of Parliament, first chairman of the NCLDO in 1992, chairman of GLADCO and supervisor of the PPP branch at Reliance, Essequibo Coast, was known both locally and internationally. He was a fearless fighter for democracy. He led countless demonstrations and peaceful picketing exercises against the Burnham regime.
He was always in the forefront of the struggle for free and fair elections before 1992, and after, for the restoration of democracy. He was gun-butted and thrown out of the Anna Regina police station by soldiers in 1973, when he asked to accompany the ballot boxes to Georgetown. He was also tear-gassed at Hampton Court by soldiers while leading the largest demonstration ever in the history of Essequibo, against rigged elections by the PNC regime.
He was the first Member of Parliament to pick up the mace and give Dr. Cheddi Jagan to speak after he was banned from speaking for years in the National Assembly by the speaker. He also tossed a loaf of bread on the speaker when flour was banned, in a heated argument from the floor. He was indeed a fearless fighter.
He also represented his party at countless meetings, both locally and overseas. But we are all here for a season and a reason. Comrade Basir lived his 85 years well; like so many of us, he had many challenges and heartbreaks, but the many, many positives and what he has accomplished in these years stretch the imagination.
I had the opportunity to speak on the political platform many times with this grassroots man, politician and champion of the farmers. He was the first person who taught me to walk in a canoe in the Pomeroon River, while going to address a large crowd in his hometown Jacklow, with the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan.
I can vividly remember when he was shot four times in his abdomen by a policeman at Adventure stelling trying to defend his party, the PPP. The policeman was later promoted to sergeant.
I am sure that many of his political colleagues were unaware of his numerous accomplishments. The late politician had a sound knowledge of the political arena in Guyana. He had many opportunities to live overseas, but chose to stay and serve his country, and that he did unflinchingly.
Our country and the people in Region Two have suffered a great loss by his passing. We as a people will have to ensure that his work does not go unnoticed, and that it continues to have the impact on the development of Guyana. I know that this would have been his greatest wish.
His demise comes as a shock to all. Mr Basir will be remembered for his many contributions – in academia, in the cultural and creative fields, cohesion and the political arena. His exuberance and simplicity encouraged those who came into contact with him to be steadfast and relentless under pressure, and to be hopeful while working to achieve better goals.
In Lima, Essequibo Coast, he married his wife Sabra, who incidentally belongs to the WPO, an arm of the PPP, and was also a young politician. Together they raised three daughters and several sons who are doctors and dentists, like himself. In his own indomitable style, Ishak Basir touched the lives of all who worked and associated with him in some way.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
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