THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) bid the last farewell yesterday to the long standing member and stalwart of the party, Joseph O’Lall by “remembering his life and work”.

There was a flood of emotions and tears as the curtains came down for the former Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) when scores of sorrowing families, relatives, friends and also party members gathered to pay their last respects.

O’Lall’s body was first taken to his mother’s home at Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara then to the PPP’s Headquarter, Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown where members of the party gathered to pay their final tribute to their passionate member.

He was then taken to his residence at Duncan Street, Campbellville for further viewing, also in Georgetown, prior to being taken to the Good Hope Crematorium, East Coast Demerara where he was cremated.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport and First Secretary of the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO), Dr. Frank Anthony, expressing his shock at the passing of O’Lall, and expressing sympathy and condolences, noted that, there were the elements of disbelief and shock as the news slowly and painfully sunk in.

“I think it was hard to believe because he had such zeal, vigor and vitality…the passionate way in which he lived his life from engaging in debates with friends and comrades to the quiet and humorous moments of a light joke,” he recalled.

“Joseph O’Lall lived a full life and a significant part of his life was dedicated to this party… he was a solid and loyal comrade, he served in various leadership roles at the district and regional level and he was never afraid to lead from the front,” Dr. Anthony outlined.

He said that O’Lall worked “foot to foot” with every one and never refused any particular task despite how big or small.

Dr. Anthony alluded that the comrade’s exemplary attitude has made him a true stalwart of the party.

…to the PYO especially those comrades in Georgetown, he was like a big brother, always there to give advice and assistance,” he posited.

“We will miss him dearly,” Dr. Anthony emphasised.

“…I guess death reminds us that we are not eternal but human… but during the interlude we must achieve and accomplish so that people cherish our good deeds and wonderful moments,” he encouraged.

General Secretary of Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), Indra Chandarpal, in her brief contribution, described O’Lall as very jolly and lively, always on the go and ready to take up a challenge.

“Like many of you who heard of his death, I myself was completely surprised,” she admitted.

“He always sought to give advice, to smile and to give support…he has been a dedicated and committed comrade,” she recalled.

“So as we reflect on O’Lall’s life, for all of us there will be different memories because he meant different things to different persons…he lived a full life and we will remember him this way,” she asserted.

In his tribute to the ardent party member, Chairman of PPP’s Region Four, Mr. Clinton Collymore, in reflecting on O’Lall’s life too, said he has known O’Lall for several decades and he was always a very strong supporter who was very active and always full of ideas.

He said O’Lall who was admired, never refused an assignment and carries out his tasks with minimum protest or complains and if anything bothers him, he brings it to the party to be dealt with.

“In some cases, it may not be to his satisfaction but he always accepts our decisions,” he noted.

“One facet of O’Lall is that he liked to dance…he is a professional dancer,” he said.

“He was so full of life and effervescence,” he asserted.

Collymore noted that O’Lall was always putting forward strong ideas including the ideas of bio-fuels and alternative energy sources.

“…we will miss him and it is going to be very tough for us to replace Joseph O’Lall,” he declared.

Former President of Guyana and founder member of the party, Mrs. Janet Jagan in her contribution, also attested that O’Lall was a long serving and active member of the PPP and within the scope of the party, elected to many offices.

“All his life he was a hard worker and paid full attention to whatever employment he had and equal attention to his duties as a member of the party…for this we respect and remember him as one of the ‘foot soldiers’ of the party,” she declared.

She said he worked hard to make the party what it has been and what it is today.

“We will miss you, we respect you and recognise you as one of the stalwarts and well known members of our party,” she proclaimed.

General Secretary of the PPP, Mr. Donald Ramotar, recollected that O’Lall was a loyal son of the party who was part of the struggle in the anti-colonial period and one of the persons in the party that was identified to build a new Guyana hence was sent abroad to study and became an engineer.

“He came back when things had changed and the party was no longer in government and a new struggle had started against new colonialism and O’Lall who had to try to make a living for himself and family never deserted the party,” he noted.

“He was a strongly technical person too, apart from his political abilities and getting caught up equally in the energy sector and long before we came into government, he was trying to show that alternative energy was possible,” Ramotar explained.

“…from his own resources, he built probably the first hydro power station in Guyana,” he said.

“…I think he give an example of what is possible in our country,” the General Secretary observed.

“He insisted that we should have co-generation in Guyana, when many people were having doubts, O’Lall was very strong that Guysuco should involve itself in co-generation and he supported Comrade Cheddi Jagan very strongly on that matter and other persons who were convinced that it was the way we had to go,” he recalled.

“…in another few months we will be having co-generation from the new plant at Skeldon and O’Lall will be remembered for his contribution to that,” he stated.

Ramotar further described O’Lall as an extremely popular and a good campaigner who worked hard.

“He was a live-wire in the party…,” he insisted.

“His death was a great surprise to us all… we have lost a stalwart in the party and a comrade who was there from the anti-colonial period and struggle through the period of dictatorship and who made a significant contribution to re-building our country,” Ramotar asserted very passionately.

“We are console by the fact that he lived a full life…he was happy in the struggle and that he was full of life and that is how we would remember him,” Ramotar exhorted.

O’Lall, 66, passed away last Saturday at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation following a brief illness.

He served as the past Chairman of PPP’s Georgetown District Committee and up to the time of his death, was Chairman of the Section ‘K’ Campbellville group.