He died on May 5, at the age of 84, after a period illness.

The final thanksgiving service was held at the Critchlow Labour College where hundreds gathered in the Joseph Pollydore Auditorium to pay their last respects.

Among them were Mayor of Georgetown, Mr. Hamilton Green, Minister of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Dale Bisnauth, other representatives of the Government, political parties and civil society, students and workers at varying levels.

They joined bereaved relatives to honour the memory of one who contributed much in the pursuit of improved working conditions for the working class in Guyana.

In a deluge of glowing tributes, from fellow trade unionists, politicians and others, Mr. Walker was described as an "indefatigable fighter", resolute in the struggle for the rights of the working class, having himself come from humble beginnings, and having risen to the pinnacles of the trade union movement in Guyana.

He was remembered as one who "walked in the footsteps" of father of trade unionism in Guyana, Mr. Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, and one whose primary concern was "Justice for the employee".

Dr. Bisnauth, who was the first to pay tribute to the fallen trade union stalwart, described him as a good, warm-hearted man who served with distinction and dignity; a tough negotiator, but nevertheless, a pleasant person. He remembered him as a simple person; self made, and of humble beginnings, but one who lifted himself 'by his own shoe strings' eventually reaching the pinnacles of trade unionism in Guyana.

Such attainment, the minister said, spoke highly of the quality of his (Walker's) advocacy.

Even though we mourn his passing, Dr. Bisnauth said, we should take comfort from the fact that he was a great man.

Mr. Oscar Clarke, General Secretary of the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) described Walker as a refined and erudite person who performed his job creditably and gave intellectual leadership; one who overcame the daunting challenge of Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham in 1961 to become President of the Guyana Labour Union.

"He was a nationalist both at heart and in deed...and essentially an advocate of the working class", he said.

Having become a shop steward for waterfront workers in 1948, he progressed steadily in the trade union arena, and his militancy through the years led him to challenge and defeat Mr. Burnham as President of the Guyana Labour Union in 1961, General Secretary of the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union, Mr. Grantley Culbard noted.

"Samuel Walker was a trusted and faithful servant of the Guyana Labour Union, the kind of person the trade union will surely miss," he assured.

President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Mr. Komal Chand described the disciplined, hard working champion of the workers' cause as "soft spoken, but of rigid determination" - attributes which served him in good stead in the pursuit of improved working conditions for the waterfront workers, then later the wider trade union movement in Guyana.

In 1982, Mr. Walker became become President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress, a position in which he served for four years, having been re-elected in 1984. He was also Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Critchlow Labour College, as well as member of the Administrative Committee of the Caribbean Congress of Labour, among others.

At the time of his death, Samuel Cornelius Walker, the trade union icon on whom Guyana highest insignia - the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH) - was conferred, was President General of the Guyana Labour Union (GLU).

Taking shape

ONGOING construction work on the new Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat building at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara. The complex under construction is located on a 12-acre plot (about four hectares) and will be a two-flat building with a dimension of 319 x 156 feet (100 x 50 metres approximately).

The estimated cost of the project is US$11M of which US$4M has been secured as a grant from the Japanese Government.

Mr. Stanley Troyer of the GLU who recalled that the late labour leader loved music, and loved his family with a passion, asserted: "Samuel Cornelius, a great stalwart and a brother, persevered against the odds of disorganized labour...He has enjoyed a full life and has left us a legacy. The Guyana Labour Union must not lose its focus of Collective Bargaining - no matter what."

Mr. Cyril Belgrave, President of the Waterfront Branch had pleasant memories of Walker, and like Mayor Green, could not recall ever seeing him get angry.

Green told of having himself developed a tremendous amount of respect and appreciation for the trade unionist.

He eulogized him as "bold as a lion", "strong as an ox", adding that one of Walker's concerns was about good diet, which undoubtedly led him to live to a ripe age of 84.

General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Mr. Lincoln Lewis recalled that Walker would always make a poignant statement that "workers and the trade union movement should not subdue to the unscrupulousness of labour," adding, "His life was used as a testimony."

Wrapping up, Mr. Andrew Garnett of the Local Government Officers' Union, said of the labourer having run his race and fought a good fight: "He has given 55 years as an indefatigable fighter - resolute in the struggle."

Extending profound condolences to the bereaved relatives, the speakers concurred that he had served the trade union movement with distinction, and will be sadly missed.