The body of veteran trade unionist Joseph Henry Pollydore was interred at the St Sidwell’s churchyard yesterday afternoon following an impressive service at which praises were showered upon his life and career.
Pollydore, 94, died on the morning of February 26 at the Medical Arts Centre.
In a repeat of the previous day’s activity, unionists, government and opposition leaders continued to laud Pollydore’s dedication and commitment to the struggle of the working class.
From early afternoon a sea of red and black clad personalities converged at the Joseph Pollydore auditorium at the Critchlow Labour College (CLC) to bid farewell.
Several dignitaries including President Jagdeo, PNCR Leader Robert Corbin, diplomats and union colleagues both local and overseas, were on hand to pay homage.
Pollydore’s body, clad in an ash-grey suit with white shirt and black and grey tie, lay in a purpleheart casket seemingly at peace with his life’s work.
When the casket arrived at the auditorium shortly after 1:00 pm unionists gathered to get a final glimpse of the man who had served the movement for 61 unbroken years.
At least one stalwart, a frail looking President of the Guyana Labour Union Samuel Walker had to be assisted to view the body of his departed colleague and associate.
Gradually the seats in the auditorium began to fill as representatives of affiliate unions arrived to take part in the final rites.
As the service got under way, Minister of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Dr Dale Bisnauth extended condolences on behalf of the government saying Pollydore’s place in the country’s history was assured.
In recalling his monumental contribution to the workers’ cause, Bisnauth said Pollydore’s was a difficult and challenging act to follow.
PNCR Leader Corbin echoed Bisnauth’s sentiment in saying that the movement instead of losing a soldier, had gained from his contribution over the decades of service and would be guided by his work.
Corbin said while the unionist stood side by side with the PNCR, he first and foremost put the workers’ interests before any other.
City Mayor, Hamilton Green saw Pollydore’s passing as creating a void in the society. He recalled his close association with him both as an employee of the Transport and Harbour Department (T&HD) in the late 1950s, and later as Minister of Health, Housing and Labour in the Forbes Burnham administration.
Executive Director of the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry, David Yankana in recalling his association with Pollydore said that they had met mostly at opposite ends of the bargaining table.
According to Yankana, Pollydore up until the time of his retirement at the renaming of a portion of D’Urban street in his honour, continued to consider him (Yankana) as a capitalist at heart.
Tributes were also delivered by Attorney Ashton Chase who has had a long association with the labour movement; International Labour Organisation representative, Jerry Goolsarran and Caribbean Congress of Labour General Secretary, George DePeana.
Also remembering Pollydore, were current Gen-eral Secretary of the Guyana Trade Union Congress, Lincoln Lewis who spoke of his predecessor’s non- abandonment of the workers unlike others of his era who vacillated under the pressure of politics.
Pollydore, he said, remained steadfast to the cause of the workers, the poor and the downtrodden.
He recalled an interview Pollydore had with the late media personality Kester Alves on the issue of unity in the trade union movement during which he had responded that no other issue was as unifying as that of bread and butter.
Lewis further urged those in the movement calling for unity “to stop playing politics and let’s live like Polly.”
The service concluded after a brief sermon by Reverend Oscar Bazil who also performed the final rites.