Dear Editor,
There is absolutely no doubt that the diaspora is playing an important role for Guyana in terms of financial remittances on a regular basis as well as with assistance to schools., churches, mandirs, mosques, sports organisations and other communities.
Unfortunately there have been criticisms in some quarters that the diaspora is not given the recognition it is entitled to and some home-based Guyanese feel that members of the diaspora should not be given credit because they “cut and run”. This is very unfortunate because some overseas-based Guyanese make significant contributions on a regular basis to the country of their birth.
The United States of America no doubt has the most members of the diaspora followed by Canada, the Caribbean and it might surprise many that thousands live in the United Kingdom.
High Commissioner Hamley Case told me in a brief conversation that he was amazed that there are so many of his countrymen in the UK and added that many of them are prepared to “give back” to their country which they left decades ago.
Some members of the diaspora in New York have been advocating that the government establish a Ministry for diaspora affairs or at least have a Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate with members of the diaspora who are scattered across the planet.
Joan Sears who was attached to the Guyana Relief Council in Georgetown with the assistance of a few well-known Guyanese who live in Florida incorporated the Guyana Relief Council in Florida and every year has been holding fundraising ventures to assist Guyanese who suffered losses during floods or other disasters. The Florida-based organisation has assisted more than 1000 Guyanese during the past decade. The organisation celebrates its 10th anniversary on Saturday, October 15 with its annual dinner/dance at the Double Tree Hotel in Sunrise, Florida.
Yours faithfully,
Oscar Ramjeet