There are few people around who are better known, and maybe solely known by their first names.

Kenyetta is one of them. Big, burly, bearded and black, and much blunter in his younger days than now, for the past 30 years he has been one of the most prolific organisers of the Bermuda Industrial Union.

When he decided to take 'a sort of early' retirement, the union's General Council tendered him many tangible tokens of their appreciation of his services.

The final expression was a big luncheon attended by Premier Ewart Brown, heads of departments, business CEOs, and others with whom Kenyetta had had encounters down through the years.

There were also fellow trade unionists, family and friends, including his wife Mrs. Carolyn Young, who earlier this year retired after three decades as receptionist at head office and the union's recording secretary.

There was much friendly banter about Kenyetta's going. Union president Chris Furbert led the tributes to Kenyetta. He was followed by the Premier who said he did not think dedicated leaders of that cut really retire. They may give up their formal positions but that's all.

He thanked Kenyetta, recalling how they had faced many issues from different sides of the table, sometimes on the same side on behalf of the BIU and opposite sides regarding Government.

Others whom the labour leader had engaged in negotiations took the gathering on interesting trips down memory, recalling how the Union had won some and others they hadn't. After each spoke Kenyetta had a quick-witted response, even when accepting a travel voucher or two or other tokens of appreciation.

The Union's Education Officer, Collin Simmons, cited Kenyetta as a true trade unionist, who always applied himself to his work, keeping the interests of the worker at the forefront to ensure they had their just due in the workplace. With his responsibility for new members, he inculcated trade unionism in people.

Mr. Simmons said the labour movement in Bermuda had the services of a powerful freedom fighter in Kenyetta as he demonstrated that his generation of freedom fighters had a good quality of leadership.

Kenyetta was a 17-year-old trainee plumber not long out of Central School when he was attracted to the BIU. At that time he was named Kenneth Young, and was deeply engrossed in the Black Power movement. He and others were fired up by reading about Malcolm X and Martin Luther King.

Many of his peers were influenced to change their names. Kenneth was moved by the efforts of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first President, who was leading the African Independence movement against British imperialism. From then on he became Kenyetta, and like Jomo, was also called the Burning Spear. Two of the most passionate tributes to Kenyetta at the luncheon came from his daughter Angela and Council member Ronnie Burgess. They will appear in our next instalment on Kenyetta's retirement.

Photos: Retiring BIU organiser Kenyetta Young and his wife Carolyn are flanked above by family members attending his retirement luncheon. From the left are daughter Angela Young, brother Willis Smith, sister Ida Young, brother Harold Young, cousin Doreen Smith. Seated are niece Antionette Cannonier, granddaughter Kameron Young and Harold's wife, Dianna. Below, guests at the Kenyetta luncheon react to some of the good-natured banter emanating from the podium. Nearest the camera on the right are former construction division members George Phipps, Kerwin (Saucy Dog) Ratteray and his brother Charles who were some of the hundreds backing their 'Burning Spear' in the tough battles over the years for overtime pay, a 40-hour work week and other benefits for construction workers.