Haslyn Parris, CCH

IN REFLECTING on the death of Mr. William Haslyn Parris, Guyanese are reminded that he was among the cadre of young pioneers who piloted the ship of state of a newly independent nation. With independence and a people imbued with confidence having won a major battle in the right to self-determination, it required much to charter an indigenous course. It required a vision to harness the economic, social, political and cultural resources out of diverse, historical, fractured experiences into a unitary aspiration and purpose, and Parris was among those who crafted and executed same.
It was at this juncture that he served as Chief Economist of the Bank of Guyana. While holding this portfolio, he was part of Guyana’s team negotiating joint-ownership of the Demerara Bauxite Company (DemBa). Alcan resisted the participation of Guyana in the company’s management and sharing of the profit.

In 1971 DemBa was nationalized, and the 30-year-old Parris was assigned Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in the renamed Guyana Bauxite Company (GuyBau), to manage its day-to-day activities consistent with the nation’s vision at the time. This vision encompassed ensuring the employees, bauxite communities, and nation benefit from the proceeds, consistent with the then thrust for nation-building and development.
As CEO, Parris incorporated sports, culture and education in the workers’ welfare. This saw the establishment of a department of culture, employment of sports organisers, construction of Linden Concert Hall, bauxite workers and children of the community being granted scholarships, local and overseas. Parris is said to have donated from his salary monthly to schools in the community.

Reportedly, it was a practice started immediately after assuming office as CEO, and continued until he left the industry.
Another feature of Parris’s leadership is his encouragement for innovation and talent among citizens and workers, which he cultivated and allowed to thrive.

In 1975, bauxite workers assembled what was then the world’s largest dragline. Sylvannius Yorrick, who led the local team in the assembling of this machine, did not have the benefit of a high school education, yet Parris was confident in his ability and entrusted him with such a task.

Workers were also given needed support, technical and time-off from work for the construction of the road from Ituni to Kwakwani. Workers partnered with residents of the community and, in less than a year, surveyed, cut through 35 miles of forest, and built a road, the infrastructure of which still stands.

In 1976, when BERMINE was merged with GuyBau and became Guyana Mining Enterprise (GUYMINE), Parris was made chairman and CEO of the new company. Under his leadership, the Number 14 calcine kiln was constructed primarily by the local workforce. Local engineers and technicians who worked on No. 14 formed the nucleus of the establishment of GuyBau Construction Company (GuyConstruct). This company built the Tapakuma Irrigation Project and the Mainstay Resort on the Essequibo Coast, and the Sanata Textile Mill in Georgetown, among other projects.

GUYMINE established a Research and Development Division under Parris and it produced allum to treat potable water. This was used in the New Amsterdam, Georgetown and Linden water treatment plants. Parris also started the research process for a new bauxite product, which at its final stage was named GuyCor 93.
Later, he was transferred to the Bauxite Industry Development Company (BIDCO) as Chairman, with executive responsibility for marketing bauxite and its by-products. After this, Parris moved to State Planning, which was an organisation tasked with the responsibility of coordinating the entire planning of the country.

The wisdom of this meant that planning was coherent and management of the state’s resources across the spectrum was coordinated. This allowed for collaboration among agencies within the confines of the national policy that saw a structured approach to development. It was while at State Planning that Parris was appointed Deputy Prime Minister with responsibility for Planning and Development.

Parris, the politician and public servant, operated in the period where there were influencing factors, such as the Cold War, global oil crisis, Southern African liberation struggle, and at a home nurtured historical distrust among the two major races, the push of an indigenous developmental thrust, militant unionised workforce, and a somewhat adversarial political climate. He brought to this complex environment incisive thinking that even won the admiration of his detractors.

When Guyana, in 1989, entered the Structural Adjustment Programme, Parris was tasked with responsibility for the divestment of state entities. At age 50, he bowed out of public employment and took up writing as a profession. He authored several books, including “The Constitution of Guyana What will it Look Like ???” Later he served as a commissioner on GECOM, Secretary for the 1999-2000 Constitutional Reform Commission, member of the Linden Television Trust, and recently he was appointed to the Select Committee for Constitutional Reform.

For his selfless and accomplished works in public service, he was awarded the Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH).
May his work live on.