Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 12, 2017 News
Norman Yacoob Amin Chapman, owner of the ill fated’ Son Chapman’ launch which was blown up in the Demerara River over fifty years ago, was yesterday laid to rest at the Christianburg Cemetery following a grand funeral
service at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.
It was a fitting send-off for a man that created a profound impact in a town that respected him as an icon.
Among those who gathered to pay their final respects were President David Granger, former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Leader Robert Corbin, former City Mayor Hamilton Green, Attorney General Basil Williams, Attorney Llewellyn John, Minister within the Ministry of communities Valerie Patterson, Regional Chairman Renis Morian and other Regional officials, relatives, family and friends.
Many braved the incessant afternoon showers to say goodbye to someone they had grown to respect and admire. The tributes were many, and all spoke about a man that was passionate about life, his dreams and his goals.
Pastor Selwyn Sills said that he couldn’t help but admire Chapman’s passion to pursue anything that he believed in. He described Chapman as a man of resilience and purpose. Those sentiments were reiterated by most of the speakers.
Robert Corbin reflected on how Chapman changed the face of the transportation service to and from Mackenzie, which was done by the ship R.H. Carr.
He noted, “With the growing influence of Demba, nothing could take place without the approval and blessings of the Company. And naturally they frowned upon and undermined any economic activity that would compete with their demand for labour in the bauxite mines.
It was in this environment that some local entrepreneurs such as Norman Chapman determined that these expatriates would not determine their lives and economic fortunes.”
Corbin said that the Sprostons-owned steamer service which provided passenger service monopolized ingress and egress to and from Mackenzie.
He posited that this monopoly allowed the Company to determine who could come and who would be allowed to stay. Corbin said that in defiance of this monopoly, a few local entrepreneurs decided the time was ripe for the community’s independent transport service.
He said that a launch owned by Oxfield started the first service from Christianburg to Georgetown. Corbin said that not long after several residents and non residents, began to capitalize on the expanding need for such services.
Among the non-resident launches was the Clemwood, which was a newer, larger and faster vessel than the R.H. Carr and became a serious competitor.
Chapman, who had been observing all this, was of the view that the economic benefits should flow to the community. Before long his entrepreneurial skills were on display when he introduced a faster and better service carried out by a wooden launch called the Son Chapman.
Corbin said that the new vessel overshadowed all the others.
“To raise capital for such a large project was no ordinary feat at that time. I don’t know how he did it.”
He pointed out that the new service provided by the launch played an integral role in the developing commercial life of the community. That was until tragedy struck.
Today the Son Chapman massacre is well documented. The tragedy however did not daunt the entrepreneurial skill of Norman Chapman. He believed in and practiced self reliance.
“We of the People’s National Congress Reform are grateful for his contributions and service. Over his many years of association with the PNCR, we are satisfied that he rendered distinguished service to the community in which he lived. He never sought high political office as a reward for his contribution.”
Regional Chairman Renis Morian said that Region Ten has truly lost a champion. In reflecting on his first meeting with Chapman, Morian said “I realized while he was so short in stature, he was larger than life!”
“Today we need to take lessons from his life and in eulogizing what he has done, we need to adopt his aggression; always moving forward and always proclaiming good things in the lives of persons.
Chapman leaves to mourn his children including educators Janice Gibson, Ava and Grace Chapman, sports journalist Joe Chapman, singer Diana Chapman and businesswoman Fern Chapman-Jones.
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