8
M
embers of TTARP FYZABAD
ZONE, at their 3rd Annual
Mothers/Fathers day function,
paid tribute to three outstanding senior
members of the community, with gifts
and tributes of their life’s achievements,
successes and service to the community.
Today, I am most proud to present this
biography of a true pioneer and stalwart
of the district of Fyzabad, and one who
has contributed in no small way to the
development of this oil town village
which has a historical background,
that is part of the annals of Trinidad and
Tobago.
Due to his present health, incapacities
and his age, I was assisted by his
daughter Ms. Maralyn Lewis in collating
the data and information of his life.
Mr. Fitz-Hamil Rhyner Lewis was born
at Princes Town on July 21st 1919,and
is the last of two brothers , Claude Lewis
deceased, and one sister Etta Lewis.
He grew up with his maternal grand-
mother and attended the Princes Town
Primary school where he had his early
education.
In the mid-thirties he moved to Fyzabad
,(an oil-town bordering the Forest
Reserve oil-belt) and began working in
the oil-fields as a carpenter with BP,
as it was known in those days, British
Petroleum.
He recalls that in those days the money
was small as compared to nowadays, but
the cost of living was low. There were
workers riding bicycles from as far as Rio
Claro, La Romain and other districts to
work as production men, labourers, field
gaugers, mechanics and other available
jobs.
He recalls too, that in those days all the
senior managers were white expatriates
mostly from England and Barbados.
He moved up the ranks steadily by virtue
of hard work and commitment, and
retired at the age of 65 years, as Chief
Construction Engineer in Petrotrin – the
Petroleum Company of Trinidad and
Tobago.
After retiring he started his own
contracting Company and worked as
a contractor for several more years,
eventually retiring full time and focusing
on gardening and church activities.
In his garden, he planted pine, coconuts,
oranges, avocadoes, ground provisions,
all of which bore several harvests.
He is also a senior and active member
of the St. Thomas More Roman Catholic,
and as a lay reader he contributed to
many activities of the church: visitation
of the poor and the sick, giving
communion, and actively organizing the
church annual Bazaars and Harvests.
He was also an active member of the St.
Vincent de Paul society doing charitable
work among the poor.
As a member of TTARP for over eight (8)
years, he assisted in the formation of the
TTARP Fyzabad zone, and also in 1970
together with deceased parliamentarian
Ms. Muriel Donawa, School Principal
at the time Mr. Harold Telemaque, Ms.
Sylvia Rodgers and other prominent
community activists of Fyzabad, formed
and launched the FYZABAD SENIOR
CITIZENS HOME ASSOCIATION. He
was also instrumental in the FSCHA
securing a five-acre piece of land leased
from Tesoro to build homes for the
elderly.
His wife Minelva Lewis, passed away
in 1990 and he is the Father of eight (8)
children, June, Pearl, Irmin, Winston,
Everton, Lynton, Jacqueline and
Maralyn. Two of his children have
passed on, and as a father he was always
present, hard-working and an excellent
provider.
As a disciplinarian, he always
encouraged his children and grand-
children to work hard to obtain upward
mobility in life, and to respect their
elders; he is a grandfather of seventeen
(17) and a great grandfather of eight (8).
Having developed a close relationship
with his grand children he often bakes
cakes for them, picks them up after
school, tells them stories of long ago and
share jokes with them.
Today he spends most of his time at
home reading his bible, looking at TV
and engaging in light gardening. He
is relatively healthy at 93 years and is
contented with life; even though he
suffered a mild stroke which affected
and limited his speech and movement,
but all in all he is doing fine.
Mr. Lewis is well loved and respected in
the community and by his family who
are looking forward to celebrating many
more birthdays with him.
The TTARP FYZABAD zone salutes
pioneer and Christian stalwart FITZ-
HAMIL RHYNER LEWIS and wishes him
God’s blessings, peace and long life.
Fyzabad Zone
“The evergreen zone of love, harmony and togetherness.”
The humble life of a gentleman:
FITZ-HAMIL RHYNER LEWIS
Submitted by
Neville A. Navarro.
Executive Member, TTARP
Fitz-Hamil with children Lynton and Marilyn
Lewis.
