Warning, loud and beautiful… Herman Haynes is Linden’s latest Centenary
By Enid Joaquin
Kaieteur News-Living to a ripe old age is just a dream, for many. Few prove the reality. But for Herman Fitzgerald Haynes, it’s not just a dream that he’s experiencing right now.
On Wednesday January 20th last, Haynes celebrated his 100th birthday with lots of pomp and ceremony.
With his daughter Claudette at church a few years ago. They celebrate their birthdays on January 20th and 21st respectively.
Section B resident, Christianburg celebrated the milestone at Blue Berry Hill Catholic Church, Mount Carmel surrounded by his children, relatives and friends. Also praising the event were Mayor Linden, Wanneka Arrindel and Regional Chair Derron Adams.
I didn’t attend the celebrations because I wanted to have Haynes all to myself.
Finally, I had the golden opportunity to meet this man whom I had secretly admired for many years. Naturally, I didn’t want to have to compete for his attention!
I wanted to know the secrets to his longevity and where he got his passion for fashion.
Haynes, at age 100, dresses beautifully and looks as blind as he probably did at 30, 40 or 50. He also has a memory that is the envy and vitality and expression of a man of his age.
During my interview with him, I was surprised by his prompt answers to questions and his penchant for detail.
He proudly chronicled his journey over the years, stating the dates of events that occurred several decades ago quite accurately and off the top of his head.
I listened and was captivated by his recollection of those events, and how they affected his life.
The Journey of Life
Haynes is not a born Lindener. He was born in Den Amstel, Demerara West Bank. There he spent part of his childhood and attended school. He even remembers the name of his principal, who told me, but I’m ashamed to say I forgot.
With two of his children – Claudette and Joseph.
Haynes later moved to Georgetown with his parents.
The first post of our centenary was at Atkinson Field (Timehri Airport). He later moved to Mackenzie (Linden) after the company he worked for at Timehri faced imminent closure.
In Mackenzie, he was lucky to land a job with a local pharmacy. That was on September 7th, 1939. He later went to work with a naval base at Essequibo.
Haynes fondly recalls securing employment with the Demerara Bauxite Company (DEMBA) on May 10th, 1946. “I worked there until November 30th, 1983,” he noted a matter of fact.
He recalled that in those early days, when he sought employment, Mackenzie had to have a ticket.
Haynes worked in the bauxite industry, in the civil engineering and construction departments, moving from the rank of laborer to supervisory.
He worked as a supervisor during the construction of the Kilns number eight and nine in the bauxite factory.
Haynes also worked in road construction and maintenance until the Mayor and Town Council took responsibility for that.
He remembers being threatened by a project engineer who saw him demonstrate a specific process to an employee. “He told me that if I was caught doing that again, I would receive a warning letter. But I kept doing it, and so I was called into his office and was told I was flipping his instructions. I told him no, and that there were many employees who had no experience at all in their work, and therefore needed leaders, who could pilot them. ”Haynes said he never bothered again.
Haynes also served as a councilor with Linden’s first Mayor, Egbert Benjamin. His constituency stretched from One Mile to Section C, Christianburg.
Herman Haynes is still taking his appearance seriously at 100.
He proudly reminded of politics and contributed significantly to the development of the tremendous PNC party in Linden.
He nevertheless admitted that in doubling in politics he was moving away from the church.
“As a kid I had to be in church every Sunday. My mother assured me that. She also made sure we were all properly dressed, otherwise we couldn’t leave the house! ”
Haynes, not even 100, has deviated from his mother’s principles, regarding his dress code.
His daughter Claudette testifies to this. “My dad always knows exactly what he wants to wear… which shirt, which shirt, which suit. It tells you exactly what it wants to wear!
And his clothes are lined up… his suits and everything. ”
On the way some young men dress these days, Haynes explained, “I blame the parents, especially the mothers. They have to pay more interest in their children. They also need to pay attention to how they dress and carry themselves. Set a standard and the children will follow! ”
Back to the Church
Haynes underlined that it was Claudette who eventually steered her back to the church. “She invited me to her church one Sunday because I hadn’t been going to mine for quite some time. From then on I started attending every Sunday. ”
His recent failing health, however, would curtail that religious rendezvous.
But despite the health issues, Haynes still weeds his yard and burns the debris. It also clears the drains. He proudly claims that his active lifestyle, religious persuasion and satisfaction are responsible for his longevity.
Bold but loving
Haynes was married to Clarice Haynes nee Lewis. He is a father of nine. These are Mayglen, Doreen, Claudette, Wesley, Joseph, Denise, Merle, Dolorese and Lennox. He is a grandfather of 30, a great grandfather of 49 and a great grandfather of 26.
Claudette and her brother Joseph described their father as a strict but loving and caring man, with a humorous side. “It was harsh but it was funny … it used to make us laugh,” they whistled in unison.