Brother Eusi was no ordinary mortal

Dear Editor,

I was aware of Eusi Kwayana long before leaving Guyana as he was often in the news as a radical politician, but I first came face to face with him in London. As a member of the Working People’s Alliance support group in London, I was privileged to host a meeting with Eusi and WPA support group members in my home in London. I had prepared food for the meeting only to learn that brother Eusi did not eat cooked food. Luckily, there was a health food shop a few doors down from where I lived. As I went out to get some dried fruits and nuts, I couldn’t help thinking wickedly, that brother Eusi would make a perfect husband for some women who did not like cooking. I imagined a pack of nuts on a plate for dinner. No pots and dishes to wash a plus. It was new to me, if not strange that someone would choose such a lifestyle. But brother Eusi was no ordinary mortal, living to the ripe age of 101 and being in the shape he was in mentally and physically, is no mean achievement.

After meeting brother Eusi in London in the 1980s, I decided to return to Guyana to do some political work with the Working People’s Alliance. This meant 3 months learning from the ever so soft-spoken wisdom of brother Eusi, at Walter Rodney House in Croal Street, Georgetown. I also spent some time organising for the party in Linden where I was born and later completed an apprenticeship in the bauxite industry. On my return to London and subsequently being elected president of Caribbean Labour Solidarity, brother Eusi was quick to congratulate me and stressed the importance of the position I now held, and he offered his time as a mentor, for which I was extremely grateful. His kind wisdom and gentle encouragement will always be remembered. Travel well my Brother.

Yours sincerely,

Luke Daniels

President of Caribbean Labour Solidarity and an author of two books: Pulling The Punches-Defeating Domestic Violence published by Bogle L’Ouverture Press, and Defeating Domestic Violence in the Americas-Men’s Work, published by Hansib Publications Limited.