Ode to Ellis Lewis, new president of TTCBC

THE EDITOR: It is said that the stature of a man is measured by what he does, with what he has. This affirmation fits Ellis Lewis, the new president of TTCBC like a glove. Ellis Lewis can well be called a man for “All Seasons” or Big Easy — one who gets along with everybody. Ellis Lewis, the neglected victor in the TTCBC election unlike many in his league, remains unperturbed by the wranglings of Deryck Murray and others that put loquaciousness ahead of dedicated service. Any one following the pre-election discourse would have gotten the impression that Ellis Lewis was the “dark horse” candidate. Deryck Murray made the front page news in one of our local newspapers, along with a front page photo followed up by overwhelming support for his candidacy. The fact that Ellis Lewis was strongly endorsed by Alloy Lequay the present chairman of TTCBC and outgoing president, did not earn him any favourable exposure in the press; neither did the ground-swell support of the members of the TTCBC Board.

It was noted that several attempts to contact Ellis Lewis went unheeded which was a clear indication that Ellis Lewis in his wisdom, may have been aware of the unprecedented support and coverage that Deryck Murray had been receiving from the press — all favourable. Ellis Lewis by his absence was able to say the things he could not say on camera. Throughout the ordeal, Ellis Lewis remained ... Ellis Lewis; courteous, humble and forthright; while Deryck Murray wore his sentiments on his shoulders like a badge of honour. Ellis is aware of the fact that when we have no priorities we argue over trivialities. And just by keeping a low profile he was able to avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. This has been my observation during the Ellis Lewis/Deryck Murray episode. Ellis Lewis received not more than two or three photos, in any of our local newspapers. One showing him receiving the gavel from the outgoing president Alloy Lequay and the other with him seated between two executives of TTCBC. All utterances accredited to him, were done without even a file photo of him. I have noted on more than one occasion where photos of other members of the TTCBC and even outgoing President Lequay and Murray the other candidate for the presidency of TTCBC, but not of Ellis Lewis.

This only lends some credence to the saying that the more things change, the more they remain the same. This treatment of Ellis Lewis is no aberration, it is characteristic of the treatment meted out to our talented people from the rural areas in TT. The most recent incident involves Ellis Lewis and his handling by the press. But before there were Gus Logie and at present the perennial on and off again indignities suffered by Mervyn Dillon, one of our pace bowlers on the West Indies cricket team. Cricket seems to have the stranglehold on the insensitivity that people in rural areas are forced to endure, in every field of endeavour in TT.

ULRIC GUY
Point Fortin