The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) today urged Guyanese to honour Eusi Kwayana by continuing his struggles for workers’ rights, democratic freedoms and racial inclusion, saying his death must not leave his causes unattended.
In a statement mourning the veteran political activist, who died on Saturday at the age of 101, the GTUC described his life as one of resistance, sacrifice and an unrelenting pursuit of a just, inclusive and united Guyana.
“His passing leaves a profound void, but it must not leave his causes unattended. The GTUC calls on Guyanese to honour Kwayana not simply with tributes, but by continuing the struggle to which he devoted his life,” the congress said.
Kwayana, formerly Sydney King and widely known as the “Sage of Buxton”, was active in public life for more than eight decades. He celebrated his 100th birthday in Buxton last year with a call for a one-day fast for justice, continuing the advocacy that had defined his political life.
The GTUC said Kwayana was among the defining figures in Guyana’s transition from colonial rule to independence and remained committed to challenging injustice and demanding accountability.
It identified him as the last surviving member of the group elected in 1953 under the constitutional arrangements arising from the Waddington Commission, which introduced universal adult suffrage.
The congress linked that democratic advance to the trade union movement’s earlier campaign for voting rights, noting that universal adult suffrage had been a central demand in 1926. It said the struggle gained further momentum with the formation of the People’s Progressive Party in 1950.
“Their sacrifices remind us that the democratic rights and freedoms we inherit were neither gifts nor accidents; they were won through organised struggle, courage and determination,” the GTUC stated.
Kwayana’s political career encompassed service in the original PPP, the PNC and the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). He was a member of the 1953 PPP government and later served as PNC General Secretary and editor of its newspaper, New Nation. He co-founded the WPA in 1974 and served it as an executive member, parliamentarian and de facto editor of its publications, Open Word and Dayclean, according to the party’s tribute carried by Kiskadee Watch.
The GTUC pointed to Kwayana’s hunger strike, petitions and persistent protests as evidence of his commitment to principle. It said he refused to remain silent when he believed Guyana was falling short of its promise.
His advocacy for racial inclusion, the congress added, challenged the country to overcome division and ensure that no citizen was denied a voice or excluded from opportunities.
The congress said continuing his work required the defence of workers’ rights and democratic freedoms, demands for accountability and action against racial division. It also called for development that benefits all Guyanese.
“It means insisting that Guyana’s development benefits all its people and that independence is measured not merely by who governs, but by the justice, dignity and equality enjoyed by every citizen,” it said.
The tribute follows those from the WPA and PNCR/APNU. In its statement reported by Kiskadee Watch, the PNCR/APNU recalled Kwayana’s service as a politician, teacher and historian, and his work in preserving the country’s history for future generations.
The GTUC extended condolences to his family, friends and comrades, saying the national motto, “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”, must become a collective undertaking.
“The responsibility now rests with us to pick up where he left off and continue to fight the good fight,” it said.
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