FORMER Commissioner of Police, Laurie Lewis died yesterday at his Sea-View Road Bachelors Adventure East Coast Demerara home at approximately 13.10 hrs yesterday afternoon. The former commissioner’s second son, Phillip Lewis said that his father was being treated for kidney failure and was receiving dialysis and that while this has been the case for some two years now, the commissioner has been in and out of hospital for the past 90 days and his health deteriorated over the last three months and got worse over a week ago.
Phillip said that his father’s troubles began about two years ago after he fell while making his way to the lower flat of his two storied home in which process, he broke his hip. It was after being hospitalized for a broken hip that the former commissioner because aware that he had several other health complications including a heart problem as well as a diabetic problem.
He said that his father has for the past two years been unable to cover all the corners of his house because of his illness. He said that after he broke his hip his father was confined to the lower flat of the home.
The younger Philip said that about six weeks ago his father was doing a dialysis when he suffered a seizure and was unaware of his surroundings. He said that after his father regained consciousness the next day he was one hundred percent better asking where he was and wanted to know how he got there and details surrounding that incident. He said that his father after being briefed then remarked that he had missed a day in his life.
Asked about the relationship with his father and the Guyana Police Force after he retired, Phillip Lewis said that the question would have been better answered by his father who is no more. He however remarked that Laurie Lewis maintained a relationship with the Guyana Police Force by attending their anniversary celebrations and its activities as well as accepting invitations from the force for other activities. He mentioned that his father was unable to take part in this year’s anniversary celebrations because of his poor health which at the time was taking a toll on his mobility. This publication asked the man the question about his father’s relationship with the force because after learning of his death at 13.10 yesterday at approximately 15.00 hours the police public relations officer was not aware that the commissioner was dead and offered to check the details to see if it was true. The department also said that the welfare of the force was not aware of the death and did not readily have a number for the former commissioner.
The younger Lewis said that he was not surprised but said that they may have been a breakdown in communication somewhere along the line. He said that after being informed about his father’s death he telephoned the Office of the Police Commissioner where he informed an officer of the passing of the former commissioner.
He recalled that when his father was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital some time ago, a police officer working at the police outpost at the hospital was made aware that a former Commissioner of Police was in an unconscious condition at the facility but failed to radio in the message to the force’s radio room and as such the force was not aware that the commissioner was hospitalised until he was discharged. He said that yesterday a police officer visited the home to ensure that there were no marks of violence on the body of Mr. Lewis.
Asked about life after the he retired from the Guyana Police Force as the country’s Commissioner of Police, Phillip Lewis said that his father enjoyed agriculture, playing dominos and cards and looking after his fishes in an aquarium as well as rearing several birds. The former Top Cop has for many years, even before becoming the Commissioner of Police, reared poultry.
He said that in many sit and chats that he had with his father there were a lot of things that were discussed. He said that the most recent chat was the Linden situation and handling of the matter by the Guyana Police Force which he said his father described being handled “totally wrong”. He said that his father also spoke about corruption in and out of the police force and at the level of government.
The younger Lewis said that his dad while he never condemned the immediate pass commissioner for the rape allegations and his subsequent admittance that he had sex with a female who when to him for assistance, was of the view that if the facts were that the commissioner indeed had sex with the woman it should not have occurred.
Former Commissioner of Police, Laurie Lewis was described by his son as a man who only acted once the facts and evidence are available to him. He said that life after the force his father also see him working as a security consultant for several firms but which he did not disclosed.
At the moment the family is awaiting the arrival of the siblings of the former commissioner before the funeral arrangements are made.
Laurie Lewis was part of a family of five where his mother worked as a hair dresser and his father a tailor. He received his education at Queens College and then went on to the University of Guyana where he studied public management in his early days. After becoming Commissioner, Lewis again became a student of the University of Guyana after encouraging his ranks to get educated and elevate themselves.
Mr. Lewis has been living on the East Coast of Demerara since 1986 after building his house at the present location. He previously lived in the city.
Laurie Lewis was born in 1941 and joined the Guyana Police Force in 1960 at the age of nineteen after he left school. He moved through the ranks of the force after graduating as a Cadet Officer and served the force for 41 years. He served as Commissioner of Police from 1990 to 2001 when he retired.
The former Commissioner of Police leaves to mourn his wife Jenifer Diane Lewis, four children and his siblings.