ST JOHN’S, Antigua — The Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) candidate for the St George constituency, Michael Freeland, has opened up about his profound grief following the death of Walcott Lewis, a beloved and longstanding community leader from Potters Village.
In a heartfelt statement shared this week, Freeland paid tribute to Lewis, remembering him as one of the most respected and reliably dedicated public figures the Potters Village community has ever known. Freeland characterized Lewis as a person defined by strong moral character, quiet resilience, and unshakable loyalty to the people and causes he cared about. Beyond his community impact, Freeland emphasized that Lewis’s death carries deep personal weight for him and his family.
As a lifelong, dedicated member of the ABLP, Lewis’s commitment to both his neighborhood and his political principles set him apart from many, Freeland noted. He went on to share the close, decades-long tie that bonded Lewis to his late father, former political figure Sir Adolphus Freeland. The two men worked side by side through every high and low of their political and community work, standing together through all manner of challenges and celebrating every milestone of success along the way.
Freeland described Lewis as a consistent, grounding presence in the lives of countless residents across Potters Village, calling him a foundational pillar of the community. His loss will leave a gaping hole that will be felt by residents of the village and many people beyond its borders, Freeland added. In a moving closing tribute, he said, “Walcott, you are never to be forgotten. Your impact on Potters and on our family will live on forever.”
Freeland concluded his statement by extending his deepest condolences to all of Lewis’s loved ones, including immediate family members and close friends. He encouraged all those gathered to mourn Lewis to lean on one another for support during this challenging period of grief, ending with a simple, respectful wish: “Rest in peace, Walcott.”