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WPA Mourns Co-Founder Eusi Kwayana, ‘Priceless Gift’ to Guyana, Dead at 101

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October 11, 2026

WPA Mourns Co-Founder Eusi Kwayana, ‘Priceless Gift’ to Guyana, Dead at 101

Guyana has lost one of its most enduring independence pioneers, political thinkers and advocates for social justice with the death of Eusi Kwayana, who passed away in the United States on Saturday, October 10, at the age of 101.

The Working People’s Alliance (WPA), which he co-founded in 1974, announced his death in a statement issued on Saturday, describing him as a teacher, mentor, leader and inspiration whose life was deeply intertwined with Guyana’s political evolution, from the struggle against colonial rule to the challenges of the post-independence era.

In a deeply personal tribute, the WPA said his passing had left an irreplaceable void in the nation’s collective life.

“Our elder, teacher, mentor, leader and inspiration has left us to go back to his ancestors. The Sage of Buxton has left this side of the river to return to the source of his spirit.”

The party said that throughout his 101 years and six months, Kwayana- born Sydney Evanson King- remained committed to empowering the vulnerable, defending the powerless and preserving the cultural identity of the Guyanese people.

“Guyana has lost the last of its original independence visionaries—one of Guyana’s priceless gifts to itself,” the WPA declared.

The party said the country’s political and social history over the past eight decades could not be fully understood without recognising Kwayana’s contributions to decolonisation, independence and the development of a distinctly Guyanese political consciousness.

A life devoted to political change

Kwayana’s political journey began in the 1940s, when he became involved in village affairs and joined the movement that led to the formation of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). He served as a Cabinet member in the 1953 People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government, which was removed from office after Britain suspended the colony’s Constitution.

He later became associated with the People’s National Congress (PNC), serving as its General Secretary and editing its newspaper, New Nation, before moving towards a different political vision centred on grassroots organising, racial equality and social transformation.

In 1974, he co-founded the WPA and remained a committed member for 52 years. He served on its executive, represented the party in Parliament and helped produce its publications, Open Word and Dayclean.

The WPA remembered him as a dedicated organiser whose counsel helped sustain the movement through difficult periods.

“Whenever the party was low on morale, we turned to him for confidence,” the statement said, describing him as a pioneer of the independent radical tradition in Guyanese politics.

Champion of African identity and education

Kwayana’s contribution extended well beyond party politics. In 1961, he co-founded the African Society for Racial Equality and, in 1964, helped establish the African Society for Cultural Relations with Independent Africa (ASCRIA), organisations committed to promoting African pride, dignity and cultural consciousness.

He adopted the name Eusi Kwayana, meaning “Black Man of Guyana” in Swahili, reflecting his Pan-Africanist outlook.

An educator from an early age, he became a primary school teacher at 15 and founded County High School in Buxton in 1956, later renamed Republic Cooperative High School. He was also a prolific writer and playwright whose work explored Guyana’s history, race relations, labour struggles and political development.

His public service included chairing the Guyana Marketing Corporation and several committees dealing with land settlement, cooperative insurance and the development of cooperative banking.

For the WPA, Kwayana’s legacy transcends political parties and generations. His life represented a sustained commitment to justice, cultural identity and the empowerment of ordinary people.

In its closing tribute, the party urged Guyanese to celebrate his life and the example he leaves behind.

“Farewell African star, Guyanese treasure and Caribbean wise man.”

See full statement below

WPA Release to the Media

October 10, 2026

Our elder, teacher, mentor, leader and inspiration has left us to go back to his ancestors. The Sage of Buxton has left this side of the river to return to the source of his spirit. His earthly duty is over. To the very end he kept the faith, cradled the civilisation, protected the vulnerable, and empowered the powerless. His loss leaves an empty chair in the gallery of our Guyanese humanity.

It is with deep sadness that the WPA joins with the Kwayana family in announcing the death of Brother Eusi Kwayana. Although we know death is inevitable and that Bro Eusi would eventually leave us, we thought this day would never come. But it is finally here. We give thanks for his life, his wisdom, his guidance and above all, his example. Guyana has lost the last of its original independence visionaries—one of Guyana’s priceless gifts to itself.

For 101 years and six months this rare and special spirit walked among us with a deliberate purpose that touched the core of Guyana. The Guyana of the last eight decades is incomplete without the fingerprints and footprints of Eusi Kwayana. Along with others and sometimes alone, he lived the Guyanese decolonisation and independence narrative of freedom. WPA declares with certainty that our Eusi was a Founder-Pioneer of our post-colonial order. In him shone the light of the full flowering of the Guyanese, Caribbean and African fusion.

In 1974 Kwayana co-founded the Working Peoples Alliance and remained a committed member until his death. Within the WPA he served as Executive member, Member of Parliament and de facto editor of the party’s organs, Open Word and Dayclean. We remember Eusi as an excellent party organiser and mobiliser. Whenever the party was low on morale, we turned to him for confidence. We also remember him as a loyal party member who never compromised his integrity and independent praxis. It is for that reason that we label him the modern pioneer of the Independent Radical strand in modern Guyanese politics.

While he gave 52 years of service to the WPA, he also labored in the valley for the original PPP and the PNC in which he served as Assistant General Secretary and General Secretary respectively. He served as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet Member in the 1953 PPP government. In addition to being General Secretary, he served as editor of the PNC’s newspaper, New Nation.

During the period 1964-71, Kwayana served as head of the National Land Settlement Committee; chairman of the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC); chairman of the Cooperative Insurance Committee; and chairman of a committee charged with converting the Guyana Cooperative Credit Society into a Cooperative Bank.

As an Africanist leader he co-founded in 1961 the African Society for Racial Equality (ASRE), which was dedicated primarily to raising cultural consciousness among African Guyanese. In 1964, he co-founded the African Society for Cultural Relations with Independent Africa (ASCRIA), which, like ASRE, committed itself to the promotion of African pride, dignity, and culture among African Guyanese. He served as Coordinating Elder of ASCRIA and changed his name from Sydney King to Eusi Kwayana, which, in Swahili, means Black Man of Guyana.

He gave everything to his country and his people. Farewell African star, Guyanese treasure and Caribbean wise man. We end this initial statement by calling on Guyanese not to mourn Bro Eusi’s passing, but to celebrate his life and lived journey.

Source: Village Voice News

Eusi Kwayana passes away

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October 10, 2026

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(Kaieteur News) – Former Working People’s Alliance Leader, Eusi Kwayana died today at the age of 101.

Eusi Kwayana

In a statement the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)/ A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), described Kwayana as a patriot, historian, elder statesman, and a towering figure in the political and social life of our nation. “Brother Eusi entered the political arena as a youth, dedicating his life to the struggles and aspirations of the Guyanese people. He served the People’s National Congress under the leadership of its founder, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, contributing his intellect, energy, and convictions to the building of our Party and the advancement of an independent Guyana,” the pary said. It noted that in the years that followed, he continued to serve the nation through the Working People’s Alliance, remaining a fearless and principled voice on matters of governance, justice, and national development. “As a historian, he dedicated himself to recording and preserving our country’s story, ensuring that future generations would know the journey of our people and the sacrifices made along the way.”

According to the PNCR Eusi Kwayana was more than a politician. “He was a teacher, a chronicler, and a conscience for our nation. His life spanned generations of our political evolution, and his counsel, integrity, and unwavering commitment to principle earned him the respect of friend and adversary alike. The PNCR and APNU extend our most sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who were touched by his life and work. We join the nation in mourning the loss of an elder statesman, and we pray that his soul finds eternal rest. May his legacy of service, scholarship, and sacrifice continue to inspire us all.”

Source: Kaieteur News

WPA Co-founder Eusi Kwayana Dies at 101; PNCR/APNU Pays Tribute

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October 10, 2026

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WPA Co-founder Eusi Kwayana Dies at 101; PNCR/APNU Pays Tribute

The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) have announced the passing of Working People’s Alliance (WPA) co-founder Eusi Kwayana at the age of 101, paying tribute to his contributions to Guyana’s political, social and intellectual life.

In a statement, the PNCR/APNU described Kwayana as a patriot, historian and elder statesman whose lifelong service reflected a commitment to justice, national development and the aspirations of the Guyanese people.

The statement recalled that Kwayana entered politics as a young man and served in the People’s National Congress under its founder, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, contributing to the party’s development and the advancement of an independent Guyana.

He later continued his political work through the WPA, where, according to the tribute, he remained a fearless and principled voice on governance and justice.

The PNCR/APNU also recognised his work as a historian, teacher and chronicler, crediting him with helping to preserve the country’s history and document the experiences and sacrifices of its people.

“Eusi Kwayana was more than a politician; he was a teacher, a chronicler, and a conscience for our nation,” the statement said.

The parties said his integrity, counsel and commitment to principle earned him respect across political divisions.

The PNCR/APNU extended condolences to Kwayana’s family, friends and all those affected by his passing, expressing hope that his legacy of service, scholarship and sacrifice would continue to inspire future generations.

Source: Village Voice News

Eusi Kwayana dies

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October 10, 2026

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Last Updated on Saturday, 10 October 2026, 21:26 by Writer

Eusi Kwayana, one of Guyana’s last remaining bastions for adult suffrage, political independence, the rule of law, anti-corruption and the welfare of the working people, died on Saturday.

He was 101 years old.

Mr Kwayana, formerly Sydney King, died in the United States.

He served as a government minister under the premiership of Dr Cheddi Jagan in the 1953 government before the 1955 split of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) into two race-based factions.

The 1953 government was short-lived as Britain suspended the British Guiana constitution and reimposed direct colonial rule.

Kwayana was a co-founder of the PPP before being associated with the People’s National Congress (PNC) and co-founding the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).

Among his notable contributions was the writing of the battle songs for those three political parties.

WPA statement

Our elder, teacher, mentor, leader and inspiration has left us to go back to his ancestors. The Sage of Buxton has left this side of the river to return to the source of his spirit. His earthly duty is over. To the very end he kept the faith, cradled the civilization, protected the vulnerable, and empowered the powerless. His loss leaves an empty chair in the gallery of our Guyanese humanity.

It is with deep sadness that the WPA joins with the Kwayana family in announcing the death of Brother Eusi Kwayana. Although we know death is inevitable and that Bro Eusi would eventually leave us, we thought this day would never come. But it is finally here. We give thanks for his life, his wisdom, his guidance and above all, his example. Guyana has lost the last of its original independence visionaries—one of Guyana’s priceless gifts to itself.

For 101 years and six months this rare and special spirit walked among us with a deliberate purpose that touched the core of Guyana. The Guyana of the last eight decades is incomplete without the fingerprints and footprints of Eusi Kwayana. Along with others and sometimes alone, he lived the Guyanese decolonization and independence narrative of freedom. WPA declares with certainty that our Eusi was a Founder-Pioneer of our post-colonial order. In him shone the light of the full flowering of the Guyanese, Caribbean and African fusion.

In 1974 Kwayana co-founded the Working People’s Alliance and remained a committed member until his death. Within the WPA he served as Executive member, Member of Parliament and de facto editor of the party’s organs, Open Word and Dayclean. We remember Eusi as an excellent party organizer and mobilizer. Whenever the party was low on morale, we turned to him for confidence. We also remember him as a loyal party member who never compromised his integrity and independent praxis. It is for that reason that we label him the modern pioneer of the Independent Radical strand in modern Guyanese politics.

While he gave 52 years of service to the WPA, he also laboured in the valley for the original PPP and the PNC in which he served as Assistant General Secretary and General Secretary, respectively. He served as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet Member in the 1953 PPP government. In addition to being General Secretary, he served as editor of the PNC’s newspaper, New Nation.

During the period 1964-71, Kwayana served as head of the National Land Settlement Committee; chairman of the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC); chairman of the Cooperative Insurance Committee, and chairman of a committee charged with converting the Guyana Cooperative Credit Society into a Cooperative Bank.

As an Africanist leader he co-founded in 1961 the African Society for Racial Equality (ASRE), which was dedicated primarily to raising cultural consciousness among African Guyanese. In 1964, he co-founded the African Society for Cultural Relations with Independent Africa (ASCRIA), which, like ASRE, committed itself to the promotion of African pride, dignity, and culture among African Guyanese. He served as Coordinating Elder of ASCRIA and changed his name from Sydney King to Eusi Kwayana, which, in Swahili, means Black Man of Guyana.

He gave everything to his country and his people. Farewell African star, Guyanese treasure and Caribbean wise man. We end this initial statement by calling on Guyanese not to mourn Bro Eusi’s passing, but to celebrate his life and lived journey.

Statement by Professor David Hinds, WPA co-leader and host of Politics 101

Eusi Kwayana, one of Guyana’s most enduring political figures, a leading Pan-Africanist and a founding figure of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), has died at the age of 101.

Kwayana, born Sydney Evanson King on April 4, 1925, died on Saturday, October 10, at his home in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, leaving behind a political and intellectual legacy that spans the struggle against colonial rule, the fight for social change and decades of political activism in independent Guyana.

For more than half a century, Kwayana was involved in the country’s political development, moving from the early leadership of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to the formation of grassroots African-centred organisations and eventually the WPA. He was also an educator, playwright, author and advocate for Pan-Africanism whose work extended beyond party politics.

Born in Lusignan, on the East Coast of Demerara, Kwayana moved with his family to Buxton when he was seven years old. It was in that village, which has played a significant role in Guyana’s political and cultural history, that he developed much of his connection to community life and grassroots organising.

His involvement in politics began during the 1940s, when he became active in village affairs.

Around 1947, while still known as Sydney King, he joined a group of political activists led by Dr Cheddi Jagan in establishing the PPP, which emerged as a major force in the struggle for self-government.

The PPP’s victory in Guyana’s first election under universal adult suffrage in 1953 brought Kwayana into government as Minister of Communication and Works. That administration, however, was short-lived. The British government suspended the Constitution in October 1953 and removed the PPP from office amid concerns about the direction of the government and the growing political tensions in the colony.

Kwayana was subsequently among those detained by the British authorities in 1954, as the colonial administration sought to suppress what it viewed as a threat of civil unrest.

His political journey would eventually take him away from the PPP and towards a different vision of grassroots political organisation, race relations and social transformation.

Statement from the PPP to the WPA

Kwayana later became involved in the establishment of organisations dedicated to African identity, cultural awareness and political empowerment. He helped develop the African Society for Cultural Relations with Independent Africa (ASCRIA), a grassroots movement that sought to strengthen cultural and political connections with independent African countries.

ASCRIA became an important part of the political organising that preceded the formation of the WPA. In 1974, the organisation merged into the WPA, bringing Kwayana into a political movement that challenged the established political order and called for broader participation by working people in the country’s affairs.

The WPA developed as a multiracial political movement with a strong emphasis on democratic participation, social justice and the organisation of ordinary citizens. Kwayana became part of its collective leadership and worked closely with historian, academic and political activist Dr Walter Rodney.

Rodney’s political activism and the WPA’s mobilisation attracted considerable attention during the 1970s and 1980s, a period marked by intense political tensions and competing visions for Guyana’s future.

Kwayana remained associated with the movement through years of political struggle. In 1985, he was elected to the National Assembly as the WPA’s sole parliamentary representative, taking his place in Parliament during a consequential period in the country’s political history.

His involvement in politics was not confined to parliamentary work. He was part of a generation of activists who used community organising, public discussion, writing and cultural expression to advance their political ideas.

An educator committed to Buxton

Long before his later political prominence, Kwayana had entered the teaching profession. He became a primary school teacher at just 15 years old, an early indication of the role education would play throughout his life.

In 1956, he founded County High School in Buxton and became its principal. The institution was later renamed Republic Cooperative High School.

His work in education reflected a commitment to developing opportunities for young people and strengthening community institutions. His connection to Buxton remained an important part of his identity, and the village featured prominently in his writings and reflections on Guyana’s social and political development.

Kwayana’s life also demonstrated how education, culture and political participation could intersect. He did not limit his contribution to the classroom or the political platform; he used literature and theatre to explore questions of identity, history and social change.

A writer, playwright and historian of Guyanese life

Kwayana was a prolific author whose published works addressed some of the most consequential questions in Guyana’s history, including race relations, labour struggles, colonialism and the development of political movements.

His books include The Bauxite Strike and the Old Politics, Scars of Bondage, Guyana: No Guilty Race, Buxton Friendship in print & memory, Morning After and Genesis of a Nation: The Indo-Guyanese Contribution to Social Change in Guyana.

He also documented the final period of Rodney’s life in Walter Rodney: His Last Days and Campaigns, preserving an account of the political activism and campaigns surrounding one of Guyana’s most influential and controversial political figures.

His writing reflected a sustained interest in the forces that shaped Guyanese society and the relationships between race, class, culture and political power.

Kwayana also made a contribution to the performing arts. His play The Promised Land, performed by a young cast from Buxton, won the Best Play prize in the Youth Category at the British Guiana Drama Festival in 1965.

His involvement in theatre demonstrated another dimension of his public life, using creative expression to engage audiences with social questions and the experiences of ordinary people.

In a distinctive contribution to the country’s political culture, Kwayana also wrote lyrics for party songs associated with Guyana’s three leading political parties — the PPP, the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the WPA.

A life spanning a century of change

Kwayana’s personal life was also closely connected to his Pan-Africanist outlook. In 1968, he met Tchaiko Kwayana, an American Pan-Africanist and civil rights activist formerly known as Ann Cook. The two married in Georgetown in 1971, incorporating Yoruba rites into their wedding ceremony.

Tchaiko became involved in his organisational work and shared his interest in Pan-Africanism and political activism.

She died in 2017.

In 2002, Kwayana retired from active public life and moved to California in the United States.

His life covered a remarkable period in Guyana’s history, from British colonial rule and the early movement for self-government to independence, the emergence of competing political parties and the struggles over democracy, race relations and economic development that shaped the post-independence era.

Kwayana’s political path crossed with some of the most consequential figures and movements in the country’s modern history. Yet his contribution extended beyond his association with political leaders and organisations. Through teaching, writing, theatre and community organising, he helped document and shape debates about the kind of society Guyana should become.

His death at 101 marks the passing of a figure whose life was closely intertwined with the country’s political evolution. His writings, educational work and record of activism remain part of the historical record of Guyana’s long and complex journey from colonialism to independence and beyond.

Source: Demerara Waves

PNCR Releases Plan to Pay Tribute to Fmr. Leader Robert Corbin

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October 10, 2026

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PNCR Releases Plan to Pay Tribute to Fmr. Leader Robert Corbin

Dear Comrade,

It is with a profound sense of loss, yet deep gratitude for a life of unwavering service, that the People’s National Congress Reform writes to you today.

We mourn the passing of our dear Comrade Robert H.O. Corbin, CCH, LL.B., LEC, a distinguished son of Guyana, a stalwart of our Party, and a gentleman whose decades of dedication to the cause of the people helped shape the character and conscience of our nation.

Comrade Corbin’s life was defined by courage, principle, and an abiding commitment to justice and national development. As a Leader, a legal mind, and a faithful servant of the Party, he stood firm through our most challenging seasons, and his contributions will forever remain etched in the history of the PNCR and of Guyana.

In honour of his memory, the Party invites you to join us as we pay tribute to this remarkable Comrade at a special event, “Salute to a Comrade,” to be held as follows:

Date: Monday, 12th October 2026
Events: Opening of the Book of Condolences: 5:00 PM
A Night of Reflections / Wake: 7:00 PM
Venue: PNCR Headquarters, Congress Place, Sophia

We warmly encourage you to attend, to add your voice to the tributes, and to sign the Book of Condolences as we collectively celebrate a life well lived. Your presence would be a source of great comfort to the family and to the Party.

Please accept our invitation to join us in keeping the family of Comrade Corbin in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Yours in comradeship and remembrance, Sherwin C. Benjamin General Secretary People’s National Congress Reform

Source: Village Voice News

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