Latest update November 13th, 2024 1:00 AM
Tears flow as Region Ten Vice-Chairman laid to rest
Kaieteur News – Draped in the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) party flag, was the casket of former Vice Chairman of Region Ten, Douglas Gittens, who was laid to rest on Thursday, in Linden. Two Sundays ago, Gittens passed away from COVID-19, after being hospitalised for three days.
The casket of the late Douglas Gittens
Scores of Lindeners flocked the Christianburg Community Centre to bid farewell to a man who was described as an indefatigable figure, a catalyst for human and community development. A man of many hats, he was lauded the many tributes by his comrades, colleagues, relatives and friends, who fought tears to speak of how valuable he was to the political arena and to the education sector in Linden, being a teacher for close to two decades at the Mackenzie High School.
Leading these tributes was Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon, who led a delegation of Opposition Members of Parliament to Linden to bid farewell to a comrade. They all remembered him for his altruistic service to the region and who served with not looking for anything in return.
In his tribute, Harmon said he is deeply grieved by the passing of Gittens and hailed him as a selfless servant of the people, during his political career. Gittens served as a regional councillor for two terms before being elected to the position as Vice Chairman a few months ago. He also served as Deputy Chairman of the PNCR, Region Ten Chapter.
“Dougie was a very special youth, a loving, joyful, friendly and helpful person. This was a young man who loved people…he was always willing and ready to serve. Linden and Region Ten must be thankful to the Almighty God, for having shared a special human being. Douglas Gittens was a good young leader in this community, committed to the development of the township and Region Ten,” he said
Harmon posited that during the campaign, he personally witnessed the tiring efforts and far-sighted vision which Gittens brought to the role, as a young leader of Region Ten.
Gittens’ mother, Ena Gittens, leading the funeral procession.
“I was struck,” the Opposition Leader said, “by his courage and resoluteness, in his devoted determination to the principles of servanthood and service to people.”
Regional Chairman Deron Adams, who was in contact with Gittens mere hours before he died, said the late Gittens was his childhood friend who became his campaign and office right hand in the last few months. “As a stalwart member of the PNCR, he worked tirelessly to advance the party’s mandate, to govern for and on behalf of all of the people of this country. His work and enthusiasm on the campaign trail, in ordinary party outreaches and in every other aspect of activities organized by the PNCR in Region Ten, will be sorely missed,” he said.
He noted that days before his death, Gittens brought relief to flood-affected residents of Sub-Region Two, by distributing hampers, supplies and moral support. “Douglas Charles Gittens left a memorable impact on everyone he came into contact with. I can say this without any fear of contradiction simply because; this was the person he was. Always eager to be considered a man of the people. Always preferring the company of the average resident,” he relayed.
Other persons who shared tributes of the late Gittens were, MP Annette Ferguson; Regional Executive Officer, Dwight John; and Regional PNCR Member Denise Belgrave ,who spoke on behalf of the National
ongress of Women.
Despite being a dedicated politician, Gittens was a teacher by profession and during his tenure at the Mackenzie High School, he left an indelible mark on the lives of the hundreds of students he taught Technical Drawing, Information Technology, Caribbean Studies, Communication Studies and History. He was also a football and basketball coach. Eulogising the late Gittens, were two of his colleagues who related that he joined the teaching profession at the age of 19. “His success as a teacher is well documented, having been named at least three times as the teacher with the best CAPE results.”
At the time of his death, Gittens was a final year student at the University of Guyana. He was also a budding entrepreneur, a skilled computer technician and repairman. He was also a huge fanatic of the football team Arsenal. He was laid to rest at the Bamia Cemetery.
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