By: Robert Fraser
This brief tribute is on behalf of all our relatives, here and elsewhere. One of Belladrum’s finest has departed from us. The most senior of our maternal ancestry has departed from us. Claude is my uncle’s son.
There are times when the importance of family relationships assumes great prominence. Our presence here is the occasion of one such time. We, who are gathered here today, are all united in our love for Claude. We grieve his passing immensely.
Claude, you have completed your earthly pilgrimage and have now transitioned to a higher plane of existence. It is the unknown distance that we all
have to traverse one day. In a very real way, Claude’s passing is a timely reminder of our own mortality. Please take note that in some time in our lives, we will be hosting some form of degenerative discomfort, and as a result of that all mortals die.
When the curtains are drawn, it is time to leave the stage. Claude left the stage after giving us a superb performance. He attended St. Alban’s Anglican
school, Belladrum from where he was successful at the Pupil Teachers’ Appointment examination (P.T.A) in 1945. He started his illustrious teaching
career at the tender age of 15 at St. Alban’s ( his alma mater).
He left for the United Kingdom in 1954 to pursue studies in engineering. He was a visionary. He did so at the time when the curriculum imposed upon us did not embody parameters of nation building. He graduated as a mechanical engineer in 1962. His graduation as an engineer was an education to us. (Youth at the time). It gave us the definition of engineering.
He yearned to serve his native land and remigrated to Guyana in August of 1962 to take up an appointment with the Demerara Bauxite company. (Demba).
There he served until year 1971. His final position being that of coordinator of all engineering and technical departments. On nationalization of Demba, Claude functioned as the deputy chief executive officer, responsible for the daily operations of the then renamed Guyana Bauxite company (Guy Bau). In 1979 Claude was appointed executive chairman of the Guyana Rice Board.
He was later appointed executive chairman of the Guyana National Engineering Corporation (G.N.E.C). His corporate experience pioneered him to be instrumental in establishing G.N.I.C as a totally workers’ owned company. Claude retired in 1995, but continued to serve G.N.I.C as a minor consultant. On the civic side he was past president of the Jaycees of Guyana and member of the rotary club of Guyana.
His professional membership included past president of the Guyana Association of Professional Engineering (G.A.P.E) and the institution of mechanical engineers – I M E C H .E, UK. Claude was a living example of a country boy’s achievement. He was part of a nucleus that created an environment that gave youths the impetus to climb the ladder of upward mobility. Thank you very much Claude for a job well done.
To his grieving relatives and friends, let’s take the time to reassure ourselves that he lives, and that it is death that is dead, not he. May the angels dear Claude lead you into paradise. Your presence will be missed. Goodbye Claude, and farewell to a life well lived. May your soul rest in peace.
