President Ramotar leads final tributes to Robert Williams
HUNDREDS of people gathered in the Georgetown City Hall compound yesterday morning to bid farewell to the late Deputy Mayor, Mr. Robert Williams. Amongst those in the large gathering was President Donald Ramotar, who described the deceased as a man who lived a life of public service and above partisan politics.
“Even though we were on different political divides in this country, I am proud to stand here to say, Robert Williams lived his life in service of the people of our country,” the Head of State said, repeating part of a previous tribute.
Mr. Ramotar reflected on his engagements with Williams, remembering him as someone who always assisted him, whenever he called requesting that the Deputy Mayor see persons with issues relating to municipal markets.
After his remarks, President Ramotar was presented with a book in memory of Williams and he expressed sympathy, on behalf of his family, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the Government of Guyana, to the Williams’ family.
Also speaking at the emotional ceremony were City Councillor Ranwell Jordan, former Deputy Mayor Philomena Sahoye-Shury and Town Clerk Yonette Pluck. The proceedings were chaired by Acting Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green.
All the speakers were high in praise of Williams, recalling that he was someone approachable and had difficulty in saying no to persons who sought his assistance on matters relating to the capital or otherwise.
Councillor Jordan reminded that Williams served the Council for more than two decades and did so in many capacities. He was a man who served his fellow humans well.
In the congregation, too, at the headquarters of the City Administration, were Mayor Hamilton Green and other Councillors, Opposition Leader David Granger, former Government Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, musicians, members of the religious community, market vendors and stallholders, as well as staff of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

LAMENTING
Passersby also stood for several minutes outside the gates of City Hall before continuing on their way. Many were heard lamenting the impact Williams passing will have on them, noting his open door policy during his tenure.
Some could not hold back tears; others who attempted to hide theirs behind dark shades or tinted spectacles and more who tried to avoid sobbing for others to hear but all that did very little to cover teardrops which, eventually, trickled down cheeks.
Williams was also a well known personality in the sports arena, having been actively involved in dominoes internationally and was an executive of the local body.
Following the City Hall ceremony, his corpse was taken to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Brickdam, where a home-going service was held and more tributes were paid. It was after noon when the cortege left the church for its journey to the Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice burial place, making several stops along the route to his home town.
Williams died last January 30 at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) after being a patient there for about two months. He had been admitted to the institution’s Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI), suffering from related complications.