President Bharrat Jagdeo has expressed condolences to the wife and family of the late Fred Fredericks, retired TUF Chairman and a former President of the Guyana Organization of Indigenous People.  He was also father of the Chairperson of the National Toshaos Council, Ms Yvonne Pearson. Mr. Fredericks died on Monday at the Georgetown Public Hospital. He was 82.

The President said that he remembers Mr. Fredericks as a very humble and quiet person who, while unassuming, has made enormous contributions to the development of the country, its democracy and indigenous people.

“I remember this humble man who was always present, at the highest levels, when political discussions on building on our democratic processes were held. He was reasonable, rational and decisive in his contributions. While he represented The United Force, he would make his decisions based on the best interest of the indigenous people and the country as a whole.  In 2002/2001, he led the group for the rehabilitation of the Amerindian Hostel, working in close collaboration with Minister Rodrigues, and spent much of his time, on the ground, monitoring the rehabilitation.”

Mr. Fredericks’s life is an example of how our ordinary citizens can make extraordinary contributions to the development of our country, President Jagdeo said.

“On behalf of the people of Guyana, the Government, and on my own behalf, I express my deepest sympathies to his wife, Ms. Philomena Fredericks, and his children.  I also express these condolences to his daughter, Ms. Yvonne Pearson, Chairperson of the National Toshaos’ Council, and the indigenous people of our country,” the President said.