Friday February 08, 2019
Kaieteur News
PAGE 27
National awardee Mr. Isahak Basir laid to rest. Essequibo’s historian and former parliamentarian, Mr. Isahak Basir, was laid to rest on Wednesday. He died on Friday aged 84. Hundreds of former friends and acquaintances turned out in support of the grieving family. Mr. Basir who was described by many as a ‘son of the soil,’ was quite famous for his wealth of knowledge, particularly in Essequibo’s history and political science. His funeral was attended by key political dignitaries from both the Government and Opposition. From the Government side was Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo who is performing the duties of President; Minister of State Joseph Harmon; and Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson. From the opposition side were former Presidents Donald Ramotar and Samuel Hinds, and former Ministers of Government. Andrieko Basir who reflected on the former life of h i s f a t h e r, s a i d , “ N o amount of words can describe the personality of my father.” He added , “He has
touched the lives of many. When I think of how he has touched the lives of so many, the first word that comes to mind is admiration. He sourced and solicited scholarships for top performers from the Essequibo Coast, Pomeroon and Charity, to advance their studies in Russia, Cuba, China, Germany and many other countries that offer scholarships to Guyanese. He wanted to see Guyana develop… My dad worked until his last.” Mr. Basir was born on September 18, 1935 in Jacklow, Pomeroon. After marrying, Sabra Karim, they moved to Boeraserie, West Coast Demerara where he worked at the Uitvlugt Distillery in the early 1960s as an Assistant Distiller. Another son, Andrieko, who presently lives abroad, said that he will ‘be back to advance and take up the mantle of his father. “I will be back to advance the call for social justice in Guyana; and to work with the government of the day and the people of Guyana, to make this country a model for the Caribbean and the world. “I make this oath as I stand before you, my
humble friends, mother and siblings.” Basir leaves behind his wife, Sabra Basir, their eight children, 17 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo described Mr. Isahak Basir as a universal man. Though his political career began with the PPP, he was always willing to share his ideas with the Government of the day, he said. Calling to mind Basir’s act of heroism in the Parliament Chambers in 1991, Nagamootoo said, “I’ve witnessed Basir’s bravery in parliament when he threw a glass at the speaker, when he lifted the mace, the symbol of authority and he handed it to Dr. Jagan, because without the mace there can be no parliamentary sitting. “If Jagan wasn’t allowed to speak then there shall be no parliament. That is what Basir was trying to tell the nation.” Region Two Chairman, Mr. Devenand Ramdatt, recommended that a museum in Mr. Basir’s name be set up within the region, in honor of his contributions towards unveiling remarkable events in Essequibian history. [Romario Blair]
“Government representatives present at the funeral yesterday [from left to right]; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Performing the duties of President, Moses Nagamootoo; and Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson.”