Dear Editor,
Although the centenary celebrations for the prestigious Berbice High School (BHS) are nearly
nine months away, plans are progressing steadily for a grand occasion. BHS, the number
one secondary school in the ancient county is the alma mater for hundreds if not thousands of
outstanding Guyanese who are now scattered all over the planet. Scores of them are university
professors, scientists, medical doctors, lawyers, judges, top businessmen and professionals in other fields.
An Alumni Association has been established to manage and administer funds to award scholarships. Eight scholarships have already been established and most of them are being financed by old students Dr Tulsi Singh, and his younger brother, Dr Puran Singh. One of them was named after Navin Chandarpal, a former student who died a just over a year ago.
Several other centenary scholarships will be announced before the September 5 celebrations in
New Amsterdam. Dr Grantley Walrond is heading the planning committee in Guyana with assistance from Saroj Shivrattan and Hardat Prashad of the Alumni Association in the United States. A historical book with photographs will be published by Dr Tulsi Singh to mark the occasion and his four brothers are donating 500 chairs for the school’s auditorium.
BHS started in September 1916 with nine boys and the student population increased from time to time. The Canadian Mission Council of the Presbyterian Church of Canada introduced a separate School for Girls in 1920 and the Girls School merged with BHS in 1941. In 1966, after 50 years of denominational control, the Canadian church officially handed over to the government. The school accommodates 700 students and more than 90% complete a five-year programme leading up to the CXC examinations.
Old students from as far away as Australia, India, Africa, the United Kingdom and other parts of the world will attend.
Yours faithfully,
Oscar Ramjeet
