Eusi Kwayana, a founding member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and a prominent figure in Guyana’s political history, has died at the age of 101. The WPA announced Kwayana’s death in a statement on Saturday, saying he had remained a committed member of the party since its co-founding in 1974.
During his 52 years with the WPA, Kwayana served as an executive member and Member of Parliament (MP). He also served as de facto editor of the party’s publications, Open Word and Dayclean.
Before becoming a founding member of the WPA, Kwayana was active in both the original People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the People’s National Congress (PNC). He served as an MP and Cabinet member in the 1953 PPP Government. He later served as Assistant General Secretary and General Secretary of the PNC, as well as editor of the party’s newspaper, New Nation.
Between 1964 and 1971, Kwayana served as head of the National Land Settlement Committee and held several other public positions. These included chairmen of the Guyana Marketing Corporation, chairman of the Cooperative Insurance Committee and chairman of a committee tasked with converting the Guyana Cooperative Credit Society into a Cooperative Bank.
Kwayana was also involved in organisations focused on African cultural identity and racial equality. In 1961, he co-founded the African Society for Racial Equality (ASRE), which focused on raising cultural consciousness among African Guyanese.
In 1964, he co-founded the African Society for Cultural Relations with Independent Africa (ASCRIA), which promoted African pride, dignity and culture among African Guyanese. He served as ASCRIA’s Coordinating Elder.
Kwayana was born Sydney King and later changed his name to Eusi Kwayana, which the WPA said means “Black Man of Guyana” in Swahili.
In announcing his death, the WPA said Kwayana’s political and public life spanned more than eight decades and described him as one of the country’s independence-era figures.
