Dear Editor,
Carl ‘Max’ Alton Hanoman was a family friend, physician to many members of my family as well as a personal confidant. The blossoming of our friendship and especially its speed were most surprising. The same may be said of its intensity, not least of all given how little we interfaced during the first and formative period of our lives. Yes, we were both born in the heart of New Amsterdam (a geographical fact of great significance to the very territorial denizens of the town) and we both went to N.A Congregational School but our stay there only overlapped for a short period as Max is a few years my senior. I can recall seeing him once in the playground of Mission Chapel School but only fleetingly. Undoubtedly, we would have met in Chapel Street where the school was located, where school children played & where the Hanoman family lived but there were so many Hanomans around, including cousins that one cannot really vouch for the trustworthiness of such young memories. The Hanoman clan was part of a group of prominent East Indian (EI) families in a town with not very many EIs when I was growing up. I could recite the names of such families at that time not forgetting the Luckhoos and Ramphals – the Ganpatsinghs, Budhoos, Anamanthadoos, Bahadurs, Ameerallys, Dabydeen, Shaiker and Reverend Magalee (?) of the Lutheran church in St Ann Street, our neighbour who, until I was an adult believed to be a European, like all other priests in the town at the time! In a country where so many people believe they understand racial preferences and behaviour, my relationship with Max Hanoman, whilst not unique, is worthy of some reflection for it does not fit the stereotypes.
In 1979 I was introduced to a team of young, newly graduated, doctors including Roger Luncheon, Max Hanoman and Dr. Bari of the Sudan, in particular. Initially Roger then Max assisted me whenever I needed medical attention. However, after Max moved to Light and Cummings St, Alberttown, he was more likely to be available on demand. Increasingly, that was so much the case that more and more friends and relatives just went directly to him. I began to get the distinct impression that Max was on the way to attending to the medical needs of the entire Greenidge clan and their friends. He would rarely charge me and when I cautioned him about also indulging those relatives because I was acutely aware that he had to make a living, he would simply brush me off with a smile or humorous retort.
But even a good doctor cannot prepare patients for every eventuality especially once you begin to age. I once organised a link between Max and then Ambassador-at-Large Dr. Cedric Grant, which culminated in a dinner by Max’s. All I recall of that event is a small cluster of the male invitees discussing ways of staving off prostate cancer and other threats to men beyond the age of 60. A few months later Cedric, in a bid to attain a reasonable level of fitness, collapsed on the sea wall not far from my residence whilst exercising. He died soon after from a heart attack!
Amongst Max’s regular patients however, was my grandmother, close to 90 years of age at the time. Early one morning Max called me and suggested I take her over to the surgery since his father was in town and might appreciate some company. My grandmother acquiesced and I did as requested. I was surprised that each time I called to pick her up I was told that she was not ready. When I arrived in the evening and sought an explanation for the length of her stay Max said, you better ask her and she said, “Do not bother about the time I spent, I have known his father long before Max and his tribe were born”. Actually, she had known Harry and Ethel Hanoman before they were married! Max in turn has had a long and comfortable relationship with so many in my household, my children, relatives and the people around me that I have ceased trying to work out on what basis they really became so close. He for his part, seemed always to be introducing me to his relatives and friends. The usual opening would begin with a phone call during which he would ask ‘what are you doing ….’ which would soon be followed by an invitation to come over and meet ‘so and so’ – Anamanthadoo, Stan, yet another one of his visiting brothers etc.
We passed many pleasant hours just gaffing and musing in such contexts. But he also seemed comfortable with me in a wider social setting and would often call when going over to GCC on an evening or Saturday afternoon or if he fancied a drink at Palm Court at the weekend. My sole visit to the Princess Casino came about by the same means. It was for me a most interesting privilege to see his networking at play. When Kim and Tony Kissoon called him to their fetes whether I had been invited by one of those children of Mrs Lyla Kissoon, the matriarch herself, or had not been invited by either Max would insist on my presence, as though he had an invitation for two!
But back to medicine, Max took his job seriously. He enjoyed being a physician and I have the impression that he sought to keep abreast of as many aspects of medicine as he could. He was especially proud of and confident in the enormous exposure which his study in India afforded him to symptoms and uncommon illnesses. He fancied himself as able to tackle anything especially as regards remedy. He had an enquiring mind and was always seeking answers even if the question involved the risk of attracting more work to his plate. It was not unusual to find him reading some medical text or other in his office. When asked he would be only too keen to explain the issue.
I was away when Max formed his political party, the UPP. He saw the task of being an MP as one to which he was well suited and I believe that he was right. That step into Parliament owed a great deal to Mr. Robert O. Corbin, the then PNCR leader. Mr Corbin replaced Dr Dalgleish Joseph as Shadow Heath Spokesman in the House with Max. I know from the stories he told that he enjoyed that role immensely and was quite effective. Subsequently, Max chose to remain outside of the House because he was unhappy with the lines of communication internal to the Party. Nonetheless, he was always following issues and seeking explanations for actions and policies. Max never really closed the door on politics.
When I told him, on my return from Barbados, that I planned to enter the
PNCR leadership race, he was excited and lent his support. He told everyone who would listen! It should not be thought however that Max was simply a soft friend. I recall on one of my visits after the campaign was in full swing that he took a look at me and urged me to reflect on my appearance. More specifically, he called on me to shave off my beard. I was mortified for it was a new experiment and had been favourably recommended by a young lady who should know these things – my sister! I eventually relented, it was perhaps too fulsome. Unlike many people around, Max had no problem sharing views of giving advice which would not be popular. Of course, this is almost the first requirement of a reliable friendship, an ability and willingness to be candid and to steer you out of harm’s way. Max was proud of his connections with the public and felt that he understood their mood.
In 1992 as I was preparing to leave for a party to which I invited Max and to which he came to pick me up I had a shock. Out of the blue he said he had just learnt that I had acquired my residence at a basement bargain price without the benefit of a proper valuation and in a special deal. He had doubted its veracity but the person who told him was so adamant that he was convinced and disappointed so he had decided to raise the matter with me. It is of course a story which was politically driven and utterly false. I was pleased that he raised it because I had been unaware of the existence of that rumour and could now be prepared in the future. I was able to assure him that I had at all times acted properly and even the price cited – actually the deposit – was erroneous. He was greatly relieved.
I was more than pleasantly surprised that Max asked me to be the godfather of his first child when Leontine was expecting. He would not take no for an answer. Today, I am the proud godfather of this very gifted and charming young Hanoman, Carlin. Max was very proud of all his children and would keep me abreast of their progress. Carlin and her siblings’ achievements and adolescent escapades were always on the menu when we met.
I share therefore the family’s grief today at the loss of their father. He was a father of whom they could in turn be very proud. His was a life of enquiry and exploring knowledge. He has been a successful entrepreneur not only in the field of medical care but in mining, agriculture and other areas. The town of New Amsterdam, the county of Berbice as well as the people of Guyana are appreciative of the achievements and contributions of this distinguished son. He has had a full life which we would be quite wrong not to celebrate – an exceptional physician and medical administrator, someone who has done a great deal to enhance our community and the quality of its life. That is the citation associated with his national award, the CCH, he received in 2016. He has been a man of energy and a networker par excellence. It is in the latter regard that we can glean a true measure of the man. He envied no one, what they achieved or what belonged to them, he held bitterness to no man. Above all, he was an exceptionally decent person.
Yours faithfully,
Carl B Greenidge
