Merely 12 days after his 80-year-old wife reportedly died of pneumonia, Colonel John Percy Leon Lewis, popularly known as ‘Uncle John,’ passed away on Tuesday night after he began displaying severe symptoms of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Lewis, 77, became Guyana’s sixth coronavirus victim although this was not confirmed until yesterday afternoon. It was confirmed by Minster Volda Lawrence, who said briefly during the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) daily COVID-19 update, “Please note that the tests results of the person who died last evening confirmed that he was positive.”
When contacted by Stabroek News, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) Public Relations Officer Terrence Esseboom indicated that Lewis was not tested for the disease until after he died.
However, according to Lewis’ son, Robert, his father was tested for the virus on Monday night. He revealed that his father, who worked on the Sheriff Street road works project, developed a cough but his condition was stable until last Sunday, when he exhibited a fever and had difficulty breathing.
Robert stated that after his father started having trouble breathing, he made a decision to take him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Monday. He noted, however, that they suspected that he was infected with COVID-19 because of his symptoms.
After Lewis was admitted to the hospital, Robert revealed, he was told by officials that he would be tested for COVID-19 as he was having difficulty breathing.
The senior Lewis was taken to the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he succumbed to the disease on Tuesday night. Robert related that after he was told that his father would be tested, he waited for the results but he never received it until yesterday afternoon. “The hospital just called to say that he tested positive,” Robert noted. This would have been an hour after the Minister confirmed that Lewis died of COVID-19.
Robert also indicated that his mother, Juliet Lewis, passed away on March 27, but he is uncertain if she had been infected with the disease because she was suffering from pneumonia. Additionally, he stated that throughout the duration of his father’s illness, he was the only one in contact with him. Robert says that he is now in self-quarantine but as of yesterday afternoon, he had received no instructions from the MoPH.
Meanwhile, in a statement President David Granger yesterday extended his sympathy to Colonel Lewis’ relatives and friends.
Lewis was born on February 13th, 1943. He attended Saint Stanislaus College and later earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineer-ing. His military career started on March 9, 1968, when he enlisted as a Second Lieutenant in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). John Lewis would spend his entire military service in the Reserve Force of the GDF, the Guyana People’s Militia (GPM). He was promoted to the rank of Colonel on January 1st, 1999 and was the Commanding Officer of the 22 Battalion GPM. “In over 30 years of military service to Guyana, Colonel Lewis greatly enriched the life and development of the Militia. Colonel Lewis was an avid sportsman and represented the GDF at rugby. He also played soccer, badminton and basketball,” the statement said.
Secretary of the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Terrence Grant, who worked with Lewis, described him as “a tower of strength” for the union.
Grant revealed that he met Lewis in the 1960’s and they became fast friends. At that time, he said, Lewis was an engineer with a bauxite company in Linden. After finishing his secondary education, Lewis received a scholarship from a bauxite company and went to study in Trinidad and Tobago and after completing his tertiary education, he returned to Guyana and went to work for the bauxite company.
He revealed that Lewis was elected president of the GRFU in 2012 and remained its president for a number of years.
“John has been good, he has guided a number of young players,” he said.
In addition, Grant revealed, Lewis was always present in the GFRU. They last worked together last November during the final GRFU tournament and he performed critical functions as match commissioner for every game. He said that Lewis was so passionate that he turned up on Saturdays and Sundays.
Grant said he was very surprised to hear that his friend had died. “One of his close friends called and asked if I heard anything about Uncle John and I said no but I did advise him how to get to John but this morning we were able to confirm his untimely passing,” he said.
Additionally, he stated that Lewis had indicated in January that his wife was ill.
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Guyana increased to 37 as of yesterday.
The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Guyana was recorded on March 11th. Patient Zero was identified as Ratna Baboolall. She travelled from the United States and Guyana on March 5th and admitted herself to the GPHC on March 10th, where she later died. Her cause of death was attributed to hypertension and diabetes, however, it was later confirmed that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and died as a result of that disease.
Five others have since died including Lewis, 77-year-old Osa Collins, 59-year-old Shadrach Stoll, 38-year-old Jermaine Ifill and 38-year-old Deryck Jaisingh.
