THE common saying is that real men do not cry, but this is exactly what I did when I read of the death of my good friend Jim. Popular taxi driver Jim, as I know him, is a taxi driver who usually plies his trade on the Timehri airport to Georgetown route. He was a very courteous and good humoured gentleman who would go that extra mile to help the other person. I came into direct contact with this brother approximately five years ago when he chauffeured two family members of mine from the United States to a hotel in the city. I vividly remember that trip as if it were yesterday, when this elder statesmanlike person politely offered to take us to the city. After assisting us with the many suitcases holidaying West Indians usually travel home with, this gentleman then took us on the most comfortable ride one can ever hope to  experience these days.
It was well after midnight when we arrived in Georgetown and a check at the first hotel brought a negative response from the front desk.  They were full; there was a Caribbean Dominoes tournament in Guyana at that time and most of the city hotels were fully booked. Jim in his usual calm, collected, cheerful self told us “leave everything to me, I will get you one.”  I believe that we checked about two other hotels before we were finally able to get a booking. He did all of this for the normal fare and not a dollar more, such altruism! This, coupled with his responsible driving is a unique blend that all adds up to the great personality of this wonderful man. It was at that point our conversation turned to tourism and the general behaviour of taxi drivers and other service providers. I immediately advised him to avail such valuable experience to the rest of the younger drivers for the good of the industry that is yet to see its glory days.

Jim is now gone brutally mowed down by a crazed user of our roads.  We have lost a dear friend and brother, who was a wonderful human being. To his dear wife, grieving family members, and friends, let us not weep as others do, but let us live every coming day in hope of a life well lived for the glory of God.