Dear Editor,
A nation mourned the passing of its best educator, Dr Desrey Fox. A nation which had not, until her death, realised fully all that she had meant to them. And when they did, the tears flowed freely, and even the recalcitrant ones repented then that they had given her so much trouble during her tenure as Minister in the Ministry of Education and the long years when she had to fight discrimination against disabled children to give them their freedom and a hope for happiness.
I never had the honour and privilege to meet and talk with the great educat-or and child advocate. I was always moved and deeply touched by the sincere way in which she expressed her beliefs, whether she was discussing Amerindian issues or women and children’s issues that impacted on all Guyanese.
Dr Fox was admired and loved by the Guyanese people. The late Minister had a sound knowledge of the education sector in Guyana, and she had used her wealth of experience to improve conditions for poor children.
This woman who was born in an Amerindian village was a ‘grassroots’ woman. We, as a people, will have to work on the foundation she has laid to continue building the education sector of our country. Her demise came as a shock to all. Her exuberance and simplicity encouraged those who came into contact with her to be steadfast and relentless under pressure, and to be hopeful while working to achieve better goals.
In her own aggressive and indomitable style, she touched the lives of those who worked or associated with her in some way. She will be remembered by all as a fighter all the way in the interest of education.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
