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Brother Eusi was no ordinary mortal

Luke Daniels
October 26, 20262 min read

Dear Editor,

I was aware of Eusi Kwayana long before leaving Guyana as he was often in the news as a radical politician, but I first came face to face with him in London. As a member of the Working People’s Alliance support group in London, I was privileged to host a meeting with Eusi and WPA support group members in my home in London. I had prepared food for the meeting only to learn that brother Eusi did not eat cooked food. Luckily, there was a health food shop a few doors down from where I lived. As I went out to get some dried fruits and nuts, I couldn’t help thinking wickedly, that brother Eusi would make a perfect husband for some women who did not like cooking. I imagined a pack of nuts on a plate for dinner. No pots and dishes to wash a plus. It was new to me, if not strange that someone would choose such a lifestyle. But brother Eusi was no ordinary mortal, living to the ripe age of 101 and being in the shape he was in mentally and physically, is no mean achievement.

After meeting brother Eusi in London in the 1980s, I decided to return to Guyana to do some political work with the Working People’s Alliance. This meant 3 months learning from the ever so soft-spoken wisdom of brother Eusi, at Walter Rodney House in Croal Street, Georgetown[1]. I also spent some time organising for the party in Linden where I was born and later completed an apprenticeship in the bauxite industry. On my return to London and subsequently being elected president of Caribbean Labour Solidarity, brother Eusi was quick to congratulate me and stressed the importance of the position I now held, and he offered his time as a mentor, for which I was extremely grateful. His kind wisdom and gentle encouragement will always be remembered. Travel well my Brother.

Yours sincerely,
Luke Daniels
President of Caribbean Labour Solidarity and an author of two books: Pulling The Punches-Defeating Domestic Violence published by Bogle L’Ouverture Press[2], and Defeating Domestic Violence in the Americas-Men’s Work, published by Hansib Publications Limited[3].

References

  1. Building Solidarity: Walter Rodney & the Working People’s Alliance – an interview with Anne Braithwaiteroape.net ↩
  2. Pulling the Punches: Defeating Domestic Violence by Luke Daniels: Very Good (2009) | Bahamut Mediawww.abebooks.com ↩
  3. DEFEATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE AMERICASwww.hansibpublications.com ↩
Other references
Pulling the Punches: Defeating Domestic Violence by Luke Daniels: Very Good (2009) | Bahamut Media 
www.abebooks.com
DEFEATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE AMERICAS 
www.hansibpublications.com
DEFEATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE AMERICAS - HANSIB PUBLICATIONS DEFEATING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN THE AMERICAS Product no.: HP222 Luke Daniels Domestic violence has been with us a very long time – it has a beginning and it must have an ending. The pace of change has been slow because men have failed to take responsibility for ending the violence. This book challenges men to take that responsibility seriously, especially the men in government throughout the region. Defeating Domestic Violence in the Americas – Men’s Work puts forward solutions for governments to bring an end to socialization for violence. The focus is the Americas since the problem of violence is most urgent there, where 42 of the world’s 50 most violent cities are located. The possibilities for progressive governments in the region to take up the proposed solutions are realistic and imperative. This book argues that our history of violence is partly responsible for the “macho culture” endemic in the region, and which is directly linked to domestic violence. Raising awareness about our history of violence will help towards a positive change in attitudes and behaviour. Luke Daniels charts the region’s history of violence before and after the arrival of Columbus, looking at the effects of native genocide and slavery, and how that history impacts on the violence in our societies today. “... this excellent book ... is about humanity, about injustice and suffering, [and] reminds us of the urgent need for gender equality and respect among all peoples.” Rocío Maneiro, Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the UK - 216 x 138 mm - 234 pages - Paperback Luke Daniels is a social activist, counsellor and consultant on domestic violence, who was born in Guyana and settled with his family in the UK in the 1970s. A father of eight and grandfather of five, he believes passionately in the need for men to take an active role in parenting. His pioneering work with perpetrators of domestic violence at the Everyman Centre in London received national recognition in a 1992 television documentary, and he has trained men internationally in working with domestic violence perpetrators. His book, Pulling the Punches: Defeating Domestic Violence was the first self-help guide for perpetrators, grounded in theory as well as practice. As a one-time perpetrator, Daniels understands fully what causes men to use violence and is committed to helping other men to stop such behaviour. He believes that violence towards women is rooted in patriarchy, and so interprets domestic violence as a political act that requires political solutions. In stock £ 7.00
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