Hundreds bid farewell to Rupert Roopnaraine

Mar 02, 2026 News

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…hailed as scholars, patriot, relentless voice for justice

By Shania Williams

(Kaieteur News) – Hundreds on Sunday bade farewell to one of Guyana’s most formidable intellectual and political voices, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine: scholar, cultural critic, parliamentarian and co-founder of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).

Roopnaraine, 83, died on Republic Day, February 23, 2026, a poignant symmetry for a man whose life was deeply intertwined with the republic’s unfinished quest for justice, equality and national self-definition. Hundreds gathered at Memorial Gardens in Georgetown for a funeral service that blended solemn reflection with vibrant cultural expression before his cremation at Le Repentir Cemetery. Mourners included former President Donald Ramotar, former Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Vincent Alexander, Desmond Trotman, WPA leader David Hinds, former Mayor Ubraj Narine, MPs: Amanza Walton-Desir, Tabitha Halley, Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram and former government minister, Simona Broomes, among many others.

Dr. Roopnaraine was internationally respected as a professor of Comparative Literature and a leading Caribbean intellectual. A trained scholar of English literature, he lectured at the University of Guyana and earned particular praise for his work on the poetry of Martin Carter. His scholarship extended beyond academia into film, public discourse, and cultural activism.

In politics, Roopnaraine first entered Parliament in 1995 and went on to hold several key appointments. In 2011, he was the Prime Ministerial Candidate for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). During the 10th Parliament, he carried opposition responsibility for Agriculture and Natural Resources. Throughout his political life, he was regarded as a principled voice , thoughtful, measured, and unwavering in his commitment to justice and inclusion.

The funeral service of Dr. Roopnaraine

The funeral service, which commenced promptly at 10:00 hrs was both solemn and celebratory. The ceremony blended culture and the arts, elements he cherished deeply and championed throughout his life. Interspersed throughout the service were rich cultural tributes, including tassa drumming and performances by the Buxton Fusion Drummers, soulful steel pan renditions by Ras Camo, and stirring readings of poetry by Martin Carter.

Though it was a funeral, the mood was not overcome by sorrow alone. Laughter and warm smiles frequently filled the space as friends and family shared heartfelt tributes, recounting personal stories and reflecting on the profound impact Dr. Roopnaraine had on their lives.

The service began with heartfelt tributes from his children, Terry and Alicia Roopnaraine, and grandsons Victor and Diego Seco Roopnaraine. Terry Roopnaraine reflected on the privilege of being raised by a father whose intellect and moral clarity shaped his worldview. “Growing up with him was an extraordinary privilege. I recognised at a very young age what Rupert was doing and why he was doing it, and I felt grateful for that.”

He recalled accompanying his father during his filmmaking ventures and witnessing first-hand his intellectual depth and humility. Terry shared that during increasingly dangerous political times in Guyana, his father made the difficult decision to send him abroad for schooling to ensure his safety.

Yet amid gratitude, he expressed regret that his own children would not experience their grandfather as he had. “One of my regrets is that my children and Alicia’s children will never have the opportunity to experience him the way I did.”

Reflecting on his father’s parliamentary work, Terry noted that representation of the vulnerable was where his true pride lay. “His real pride and joy was representation. I’ve lost count of the times people stopped him in the streets to raise concerns so he could take them to the proper place and help resolve problems.”

He concluded, “Growing up with Rupert was an amazing, complicated, enriching experience. I will miss his unconditional love,” while expressing gratitude to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony for their care during his father’s illness.

Alicia Roopnaraine, visibly emotional, described her father as her “first love.” “I knew this day would come, but I can’t imagine standing here losing my first love. In your eyes I could do no wrong. He was the perfect father — kind, generous, and the most loving person I’ve ever met. My heart is heavy, but I was proud to stay by his side.” His grandsons also shared memories, with Diego tenderly saying: “You will be missed, but never in a sad way, abuelo (grandfather in Spanish).”

Other tributes

Throughout the services, most of the ceremony entailed tributes, many reflecting on their encounter with Dr. Roopnaraine.  In written remarks, President Irfaan Ali described him as “a public figure of conscience.” “Though we sat on different sides of the political aisle, he belonged to that rare fellowship of men who wed thought to action and principle to sacrifice.”

He referenced Roopnaraine’s courage during the anti-dictatorship struggle and his association with the late Walter Rodney, noting that he faced persecution with resolve rather than bitterness. President Ali also praised his intellectual contributions as a lecturer and later Minister of Education. “He understood that ideas are among the most powerful instruments of liberation. In Parliament and later as Minister of Education, he carried his quiet scholarship into public service. He believed that education was the architecture of freedom— the patient building of minds capable of thought, dissent, and imagination,” he said.

President Ali added, “He earned respect not by force of rhetoric, but by depth of His was a life that proved intellect need not be aloof, that politics need not be venomous, and that conviction need not harden the heart. May he rest in eternal peace.”

Former Minister Raphael Trotman recalled knowing Roopnaraine since their teenage years, remembering him not only as a political figure but as a storyteller and sportsman who once shared the cricket pitch with Imran Khan. “I did not encounter him at political rallies, but in living rooms and social gatherings, where he laughed easily and told stories of struggle, courage, and comradeship. I remember listening in awe as he spoke of sharing the cricket pitch with Imran Khan, all while expertly rolling tobacco into a cigarette and smoking it with characteristic panache,” he said.

Trotman added, “It was a privilege to have known and worked with Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, and to witness first-hand his indelible contribution to the making of a modern Guyana.”

Leader of the WPA, David Hinds, described Roopnaraine as foundational to the party’s development after Walter Rodney’s assassination. “After Walter Rodneys’ assassination, we got down to the business of building the party and Rupert was a centre of the work going from community and forming party groups he was very active in building the internal organs of the party,” he said.

He highlighted that Dr. Roopnaraine finest hour was the formation of the APNU. “  He worked assiduously to bring that organisation into being today the APNU , he coined that name,” Hinds stated.  The WPA leader with heavy heart and visibly emotional said, “It is difficult to say goodbye. Farewell brother.”

Additional tributes came from former students of the University of Guyana, where Dr. Roopnaraine devoted many years to teaching. One past student recalled the intellectual rigor he demanded in his classroom. “We were expected to read and analyse. He never taught with notes. He opened his personal library to us, and some of his lectures were even held at his home. It was a joy to be in his class. He was a deeply philosophical man,” she shared.

A long-time colleague from Queen’s College, wearing the school’s uniform tie in tribute, also offered heartfelt remarks. He spoke not only as a fellow educator but as a childhood friend. “I am proud of our Queen’s College education and grateful for the opportunity to offer condolences on behalf of Queen’s College. We met when he was nine and I was ten. I attended every one of his birthday parties. My hope and belief is that Rupert’s soul will be marching on.”

Among those paying tribute was former West Indies cricket captain Clive Lloyd, who spoke of his dear friend with visible emotion. Recounting their early years on the cricket field, Lloyd described Roopnaraine as naturally gifted and composed.

“Rupert was a natural. His tact and skill were a guarantee of success. He dealt with matters with style and depth of thought. Guyana has lost a great Guyanese, and I have lost a very dear friend.”

He concluded with an emotional farewell. “We shall miss his engaging smile and his wonderful demeanour. Farewell, my dearest friend,” Sir Lloyd said.

The intellectual legacy of Rupert Roopnaraine

Beyond politics, Roopnaraine’s literary and cultural contributions remain monumental. His acclaimed collection The Sky’s Wild Noise: Selected Essays earned the 2013 OCM Bocas Prize for Non-Fiction, showcasing his passionate opposition to authoritarianism and ethnic chauvinism while affirming his humanistic engagement with even political opponents.

In Web of October: Rereading Martin Carter, he offered a meditative and profound examination of Carter’s poetry, emphasising the irreducibility of individual human experience. His critical study Primacy of the Eye: The Art of Stanley Greaves explored the work of Caribbean artist Stanley Greaves, analysing the intersection of politics, symbolism, and artistic expression.

As a filmmaker, Roopnaraine co-created the seminal documentary Terror and the Time, a cinematic testament to Guyana’s anti-colonial struggle featuring Martin Carter’s poetry of resistance. The film continues to be screened and discussed and is being restored in 4K format. Colleagues and public servants remembered him as a gentle yet firm servant-leader — selfless, principled, and patriotic. Former associates at CARICOM described him as a bridge-builder whose advocacy for equality, racial harmony, and sustainable development left an indelible mark. As the service concluded with drums and steel pan, some attendees swayed gently to the rhythms. The procession then made its way to Le Repentir for his cremation.

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• farewell, funeral service, Politics, Rupert Roopnaraine, Working Peoples’ Alliance

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