Former deputy governor of the Bank, Clarence Ellis has died, leaving a legacy of sound economic policies and years of committed work in the public service. He was in his late seventies.
Ellis, remembered for his firm stance against the economic direction in which the country was going in the 1980s, served in a number of capacities including simultaneously holding the positions of Deputy Governor of the Bank of Guyana and Chairman of the State Planning Committee.
Bank of Guyana Governor Lawrence Williams said yesterday that Ellis was an able and committed economist, who was passionate about his work, particularly his economic research projects and management of state enterprises. “He worked beyond the call of duty, sometimes well into the night,” Williams recalled, noting that Ellis was often at the bank completing work at late hours.
He said the OBEs [Old Bank Employees] would know Ellis well and pointed out that many of the current staff did not know him. He said Ellis was a disciplinarian “something the security guards who knew him can attest to”. Williams added that the bank mourns Ellis’s passing and he offered condolences to his family.
Former ambassador Ronald Austin called Ellis a “remarkable and honorable man,” saying the late economist was also a man of rock-solid integrity. His recollection of Ellis dates back to the eighties when he recalled Ellis had firmly opposed the economic direction in which the country was going. “He wrote extensively outlining his position, he also wrote memorandums [on the issue],” Austin said, adding that when an opening came for an Inter-American Develop-ment Bank (IDB) position Ellis was bypassed. But he said Ellis later went to the IDB as a senior advisor during the Hoyte years. He said it was unfortunate that Ellis had to demit office in 1992 when a new government assumed power.
Austin said Ellis was deeply concerned about the economic future of this country and was a man who believed in shared governance. Ellis supported cohesiveness and racial harmony, Austin stated, noting that Ellis’s leadership was critical to the development of many young people. “He will be missed, when people of his calibre passes a vacuum is created,” he added.
Austin said that very few people in this country possess Ellis’ strength, knowledge, courage and integrity.
Further, Austin recalled that Ellis had a “superb” wife at his side. He offered condolences to the family saying it is rare to find people in the public service to serve with Ellis’ commitment.
