Tribute to the Late Jimmy Hamilton

Oct 25, 2019 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

I read with sadness the passing of my friend and colleague of over forty-five (45) years, the late Jimmy Hamilton. “Jimmy” as his colleagues and friends knew him was an iconic and trail blazing architect of Mashramani and made significant contributions to other aspects of Guyana’s cultural heritage.
Like other well-known citizens past and present in this Republic, Jimmy could hold his own in conversation on any topic under the sun, with or without the fabled ‘drinks’. He smoked and drank with abandon and yet was always the same healthy looking, smiling person and friend I grew to know and respect
At that time, the early seventies the Jaycees at Linden was the leading Organisation for social activities and Jimmy’s name was often mentioned at every level of Society. His dark hair, handsome features and slim body enhanced his popularity in that Community.
He is known as the founder of Mashramani but there were other facets to Jimmy that few knew – including his love for cricket which he would often speak about and his courage, he once told me of being strapped to the under carriage of a plane which flew over an area in Linden while he photographed the terrain. I found this courageous feat to be incredible, which could have been fatal had a single pebble hit him as the Aircraft landed.
Later in life I had the honour of working with Jimmy to help build the National Front Alliance (NFA) of which he was a founder member until his passing. He was one of our chief negotiators in unity discussions with eleven (11) other small Parties, which was eventually reduced to four (4) and then two (2). Nevertheless, Jimmy stood by his commitment to continue to strive for unity both at the Community and National levels.
He, along with Lawrence Farley, insisted on the need for a weekly paper to get our message across. ‘Vision and Voices’ resulted with weekly inputs from Jimmy and others.
When others dithered in joining with the PNC/R Rainbow Coalition, he was very vocal in the need to put Guyana first.
Resulting in the birth of PNCR One Guyana. We did not always share the same political and philosophical space but he never retreated from his stated positions once the facts were available to support his position. His eloquent expositions were always appreciated.
With his passing I hope that his contributions and life will be recorded as among the salt of the earth and I hope that in due course, some memorial, formal or informal, will be established in his name.
I extend my solidarity on his passing to his extant family and friends, in Guyana and the diaspora.

Keith Scott
Leader of NFA Party

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