BORN to Rachel Albert and Johnny Lewis on February 25, 1917, Victor
Anthony Robertson Lewis, who turns 102 today, is the oldest living centenarian in East Berbice, Corentyne.
Popularly called Victor, the second of five siblings from Brighton Village, he said it is through the mercy and blessings of God he is alive and healthy.
“What the Lord has said to be done will be done; if you want something you have to work for it but without the Lord, nothing is possible,” he said.
Amazingly, at his age, the only medical complaint the centenarian has is his eyesight. He is able to move around and be independent with little to no assistance. A carpenter for most of his life, Victor was literally forced to stop working when he was in his 90s by his children who felt it was time for him to rest.
He attended the Eversham Primary School and completed studies there at age 16. The year was 1933. In those days, secondary school education was not readily available like today, and it therefore meant that on completion of primary school, his formal education came to an end.
He was introduced to carpentry, by a close friend called “Brother
Grant”, who was working on a house in the village.
“I just finish school and not doing nothing and he said to me, ‘young man, you wanna learn this trade’ and I say ‘anything brother’ and that’s how I start with him,” Victor related.
For the next 80-plus years, he continued in the trade that earned him a living, as well as, allowed him the opportunity to help shape the infrastructural landscape of Guyana, by working on most of the multilateral schools throughout the country.
GOOD REPUTATION
Victor reminisced that his hard work earned him a good reputation as a carpenter, after initially starting out as a labourer.
“In my days was handsaw, mortice and chisel not them fancy chopsaw
nowadays. You had to personally select the pieces of lumber for the job and you had a connection. Whenever you completed a job, you were proud of the work you put in because you know it can stand the test of time,” Victor related with a proud smile on his face.
After mastering the trade and felt he was capable of providing for a family, Lewis got married in 1949, at the age of 32, to Monica Williams from Limlair Village, also on the Corentyne.
With the support of his wife, he built his house from scratch, at Brighton, to cater for their family. Their union produced 12 children, 11 of whom are still alive. The eldest is 60, while the youngest is 40 years old.
In his early days, Victor recalled going with his co-workers to a “village dance” on the weekends, immediately after work, and playing cricket.
He, however, tried his utmost to make sure he was in church on Sundays, something he still tries to upkeep even to this day. Victor is a member of the Eversham Presbyterian Church.
AWAYS HUMBLE
“Make sure God is in everything you do in life,” he said, noting, that throughout his life, he has always been humble and contented and never had a favourite meal.
This trait, he has imparted to his children, with the hope that they will also impart it to their children. However, the centenarian is concerned with the attitude of the children today, towards their parents.
“In my days, the parents tell the children what to do and they obey or you face disciplinary action, but now the kids telling them parents what they want to do and they are messing up their lives. Is do what you want nowadays,” he said.
Lewis said it is important for parents to provide guidance to their children at all times, especially, the mother, whom he says play a pivotal role in molding and educating their children.
On Saturday last, family and friends gathered and threw a party for Lewis. He was in his usual jovial, chatty self and enjoyed the occasion.
