FORMER Minister of Forestry, Fitz Uriel Alexander Carmichael, collapsed on Thursday in the vicinity of Camp and Robb Streets, Georgetown, and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was rushed. He was 81 years old.A female relative of Carmichael’s told the Guyana Chronicle that he had left home for a walk. Although advanced in age, he was reportedly in fairly good health and had been very active.

His Guyana address was Lot 205/206 Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, but he had also been living in the United States, from whence he had recently come, and where he had been scheduled to return next month to fulfill a doctor’s appointment.

His son Kenwyn Carmichael hailed him as “a man who was the pillar of strength, support and discipline; (and) whose love for family was never questioned”.

Carmichael had served as regional minister of Regions One and Nine before he became Minister of Forestry during the Presidency of Forbes Burnham. Before his ministerial appointments, Carmichael had been a teacher and principal at the Burnham Agriculture Institute (BAIT) at Port Kaituma in the North West District.