Dear Editor,
A loud voice went still on Saturday July 20th. No longer on Wednesday mornings around 10:00 a.m. will that voice be heard in the halls of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC); his presence announced with the inquiry to my secretary, whether his coffee is ready.
He got the nickname ‘Rambo’ from then Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte. There were a number of decisions taken by the newly elected People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government which affected agencies such as power and light, customs, income tax and others. Hoyte had said the government did not know what it was doing, and there was a man, named Gaskin, in the Ministry of Finance behaving like Rambo. Ramon, instead of rejecting the attribution, embraced the name with fervour and was comfortable being so addressed.
There were times, in our conversations, when we discussed the government’s performance, he would jump up from his seat and convert the word Rambo into a verb and threatened to ‘rambo-rize’ them. There were times he would gesticulate by pointing his finger, standing on his toes, saying to us “I’ll will scatter them to the wall.” Rambo was fuelled by challenges, a deep love for country, wanting better for his country and fellowman, and concerned about the pervasive corruption and mismanagement.
We shared many heated exchanges but did not disagree on universal principles only on their application. Rambo had a fine mind and if you have an open mind, you will never leave a conversation not learning something from him.
I first met Rambo in 1998 at a symposium at The Bishops High School, a week after I led a protest against him as Chairman of the Guyana Electricity Corporation (now Guyana Power and Light), which resulted in him being removed from his portfolio. After listening to his presentation, at the end of the symposium I approached him and expressed agreement with the positions he articulated. I told him we can collaborate. The next day Rambo turned up at my office in Charlotte Street. He, Aaron Adams and I had an in-depth discussion on current affairs. A relationship was born.
Rambo and I were born under the same zodiac sign: Virgo. Whenever he celebrated his birthday, in Guyana, he insisted I be present. I never let him down. Ours was a relationship that blossomed and maintained until his death. We discussed trade unionism, politics, oil and gas, the economy, and many more issues.
Rambo was never a trade unionist by membership but by heart. The trade union community benefited tremendously from his input. In the 1999 Public Service Strike, Rambo played a significant role in the preparation of the Guyana Public Service’s Brief for the Arbitration.
In 1998 when the Guyana Bauxite & General Workers Union (GB&GWU) went to arbitration with Omai Gold Mines, Rambo led the team that prepared the Brief. When the Award was given, Rambo encouraged us to engage the arbitrator, the late attorney-at-law Donald Robinson, who accepted he erred in his decision by failing to take into consideration GB&GWU’s financial and economic arguments. Rambo looked at Robinson, turned to me and said, “Lincoln, don’t pay him one (expletive) cent.” I complied.
Rambo was fiercely protective of our independent status and expressed grave disappointment that the government would undermine the struggles that led to the achievement of independence by becoming toys to world powers and multinationals. He detested corruption and was disappointed that corrupt Guyanese politicians were not held sufficiently accountable.
While he was not considered pro-American, he did not underestimate the impact of America and the geopolitics of Guyana. He felt given the U.S is considered more law abiding than Guyana, corrupt Guyanese politics should be taken to the U.S and tried in that court. He believed the courts of Guyana do not have the credibility to deliver justice.
Rambo took ill just over a fortnight ago and was hospitalised. I visited him. On my first visit, I stood by his bedside and called his name four times. There was no response. On the fifth occasion, I said “Rambo, it is Lincoln.” He opened his eyes and looked at me. I told him he has to get well soonest because he cannot leave me alone in the fight with the brigands. Rambo put up his left hand and held mine, shook his head and smiled.
Every time I spoke, Rambo nodded his head and looked at me, which gave me the impression he understood what I was saying. My last visit on Thursday, I held his hand and said to him, “You have to get out from here, boy.” He shook his head in the affirmative. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it out alive.
May his soul rest in eternal peace. My deepest condolences to his loved ones, some of whom I have come to know.
Sincerely,
Lincoln Lewis