Prime Minister Samuel Hinds recently joined other leaders and the Ambassadors of Buxton Community Development Association to honour top performers from the community at an achievement award ceremony.
Hinds, in his capacity as president, was among guests including Opposition PNCR leader Robert Corbin, AFC MP Khemraj Ramjattan and Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) Bishop Juan Edghill.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the ceremony came about after members of the Association contemplated ways of promoting a positive image of the community which was at the centre of ‘bad press’ during 2005. A group lead by Pastor Terry Thomas formed the Association to recognise members of the community who have graduated from institutions of higher learning. The pastor said over the years Buxtonians have been achieving excellence in the academic and sporting disciplines, but many of these positive stories often go untold. “We thought to have this award to let persons know that they are Buxtonians who excel in different areas of learning,” he said.
This year’s ceremony, held at the Victory Mission Building at Company Road, Buxton saw 51 persons, mostly youths receiving trophies and other prizes for good performance in the areas of forestry, social work, international relations, business management, marketing and banking. Awardees had completed courses at the University of Guyana, the Cyril Potter College of Education, the Government Technical Institute and Bible College while others were successful at the CXC and SSEE.
In his address Hinds congratulated the awardees noting that it is “we who must make, Buxton, Guyana and the world a better place.” He recalled his years as a youngster in Mahaicony and that his grandparents had often encouraged and ordered him to read. Hinds said this practice made him cognisant of events that occurred here and in other parts of the world. He said too the habit of reading later paid off when he entered secondary school and began studying about the history of Britain. “I’d like to encourage the awardees to maybe read about the period in history about the agricultural revolution, the start of unions and how Britain and European countries moved from a position where countries move from undeveloped to developed,” he said. Hinds also charged the older members of the community to take up leadership roles and guide the younger generation by sharing their experiences and in other ways.
Corbin echoed these sentiments. He also reminded the gathering of the proud history of Buxton which was bought by the freed Africans after emancipation. Corbin said community must be inspired by the valiant efforts of its ancestors who endured the trials of slavery to pave the way Buxtonians today. He also called on the community members, particularly youths to be inspired by the number of acclaimed men and women who were born in the community.
GINA said since it was formed the Association said 215 persons have been credited as ‘top achievers.’
