–his work and memories live on

WILLIAM Haslyn Parris was a public servant, executive, politician, and more importantly, a man I have come to call brother. No more will I hear his voice speaking to me in real time. Forever will I hear that voice at I look around the society, engage in my work as a trade unionist, and continue the struggle to ensure a just and equitable society for all. Haslyn was interested in all of these, and was all of those.

Having had the opportunity, as a trade unionist, to sit across the table and listen to his thoughts as Chief Executive Officer of GUYMINE as he passionately representing his vision to bring and improve social services within the bauxite communities, I was offered an insight into a man who understood that workers’ welfare, both in the workplace and community, are intertwined.

It was under Haslyn’s watch that the Mackenzie Hospital was opened to delivering services to the wider community, and healthcare services expanded through the construction of the Wismar Hospital. Under his leadership, in 1976, the bauxite company embarked on a major housing drive, and led the way in putting structures in place for the building of the following communities: Amelia’s Ward Self-Help, Ituni Housing Scheme, Kwakwani Housing Scheme, Bermine Housing Scheme, Wisroc Housing Scheme Phases I, II, III and IV, and the area being presently developed at Wisroc was allotted in the same period.

His was a passion for sports. Even though he was not a participant, he understood the games he took interest in and represented them as though he was a player and competitor. Listening to him articulate matters of sports, it was no surprise that GUYMINE was able to marshal a formidable track and field team that excelled in the public sector (GuyStac, GuySuCo and GUYMINE) games.

The Siripana Farm was expanded under his stewardship, and in addition to providing employment, it supplied the bauxite workers and communities with meat and vegetables.

These anecdotes speak to the level of consciousness Haslyn brought to human development. His was a belief that the part cannot function by itself, and the whole is dependent on the strength of all its parts. To this end, he sought to instil and create the infrastructures for holistic development.

Haslyn had the knack — at times one got the impression he revelled in it — to stimulate thinking and even convince persons to see an issue through his lens, after which he’d argue it from another perspective, equally compelling and convincing; which would influence a change of mind to the new thinking.

I had the opportunity to listen to him gaffing with a group. In that conversation, he picked up a glass, held it in his hand, and proceeded to advance an argument that the glass is a cup. He then did a 360 degree turn and advanced another argument that the glass is a glass. Both arguments were so compelling that if we were not socialised to believe that the glass was a glass, it was easy — based on the reasoning Haslyn put forward — to see the glass as a cup.

On matters relating to the country and workers’/citizens’ wellbeing, Haslyn was a repertoire of knowledge, which encompassed a vision for Guyana’s development and its people’s harmonious and peaceful co-existence.

Outside of being CEO of GUYMINE, head of the State Planning Secretariat, Deputy Prime Minister, GECOM commissioner, author and other held titles, Haslyn impacted Guyana profoundly with the work he did in the 1999-2000 Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC).

He was the CRC Secretary. In conversations with him on this experience, it was unmistakably taken away, every time there was engagement on the Guyana Constitution, that he viewed this instrument as a living document. He argued that until it is seen as such, there will be absence of a vision to craft a national strategy to develop Guyana, the people, and their respective communities.

Though in later years Haslyn was not much in to day-to-day public life, he kept abreast with what was happening on a day-to-day basis, and was always insightful on matters of national import. In the last four years, he took a special interest in the empowerment struggles of the people of Linden/Region 10.

He was recently appointed a member of the Special Committee on Constitutional Reform.
His was an optimistic outlook on life. Our last conversation was 10 days before his death. We spoke about the 100th anniversary of bauxite mining in Guyana and his thoughts about its observance. He was his usual lively self, sharp as a whip. He advised that our discussion would be better if we were to sit under the genip tree in his yard — an invitation I committed to honour. Regrettably, my next visit under that tree was on hearing the sad news that he has left this earthly plain.

Men will pass, but their work and achievements live on.

I hereby extend condolences to Haslyn’s loved ones, the people of Buxton/Friendship and Linden, and all those whose lives he would have touched. May his soul rest in peace.