Dear Editor,
Ordinary Guyanese folk, especially those who have been involved in the country’s community service sector in some formal way over the decades, should support and embrace the concept of the El Dorado Awards founded by Caribbean Voice.
However a scan of the recently published listing of the awards (SN, December 19) reveals an undervaluing of the Guyanese humanitarian experience. Caribbean Voice over the past year has engaged in media interventions that are significant, particularly by flagging those factors which are prevalent in East Indian villages and neighbourhoods and which contribute to individuals becoming suicides.
The kind of activism co-funded or sponsored by Canadian Life Support organisations was very much appreciated during the late 1990s and subsequently, along with the efforts of Vince Ramcharran and Professor Samad to a lesser degree, within selected East Berbice locations.
But this kind of counselling tends to be of limited duration for a number of reasons. Voluntary work in contemporary Guyana requires stamina and fortitude, and at times even these are not sufficient to ensure realistic goals.
There has to be a broad-based attack on poverty as well as on domestic and gender violence that rejects the notion of the marginalisation of communities that are viewed as not part of a pro-government consensus.
Some omissions from the El Dorado Awards
* The late Dr Joshua Ramsammy for his pioneering work in bio-diversity, in river/air pollution in the extractive sector (the 1995 Omai disaster), and his support for scientific research beneficial to Guyanese development.
* The late Dr Moti Lall for his tremendous contribution to the fight against tuberculosis, and in the latter part of his service, the fight against HIV Aids and the re-emergence of TB in parts of Guyana.
Moti Lall also developed community relationships that were tantamount to counselling (health, access to education and sub-regional government departments, etc).
* Clifford Reis, Director Banks DIH, for rendering assistance to communities, supporting special needs and/or disabled persons’ organisations as well as educational pursuits for young people.
* Attorney Miles Fitzpatrick, arguably one of Guyana’s leading advocates for law reform and constitutional rights, made interventions during the 1970s in particular, including the establishment of a low income community shelter for socially at risk, predominantly urban youths (ie, the Movement Against Oppression), thus deterring in some way the trend of extra-judicial police killings.
* Tony Xavier for his commendable involvement in lobbying and urging the (then) central government to lay emphasis on infrastructural development (Georgetown Roads Phases I and II).
Xavier also contributed towards a qualitative improvement in the area of rural sub-regional road development that had a practical impact on the lives of people.
* The late attorney Gaumattie Singh for her considerable pro bono legal services, particularly in instances where access to Legal Aid offices was not available.
* Annette Arjune for her environmental work, especially in the area of mangrove restoration and matters related to shoreline security and riverine neighbourhoods.
This work has also contributed to economic initiatives such as craft and micro cash crop or garden farm ventures in parts of rural Guyana ‒ a spin-off from the improved anti-flood interventions.
Dr Royston Anderson, a former resident medical doctor at the Berbice Public Hospital for his compassion and humanitarian work (similar to that of Dr Moti Lall at the community level). Many Berbicians would credit Dr Anderson for his counselling in relation to psychotic ailments.
* Dr Bhiro Harry, a psychiatrist and supervisor of services in the mental health sector, who certainly must be one of the most knowledgeable and experienced specialists in suicide and the ailments that can lead to suicide.
Two organisations which are active in social counselling and should not be overlooked are the Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT) and the Bakja Health Centre for Natural Medicine.
GIT’s agenda lays emphasis on helping impoverished Muslims and others. In several parts of the country the Islamic Trust assists the vulnerable and distraught.
Bakja combines social psychology with self-reliance and targets those whom the system has failed. Mention could be made of treating ailments associated with either drug or alcohol abuse.
Finally Caribbean Voice should examine the tremendous contributions of Philomena Sahoye-Shury and the late sociologist Kampta Karran, both of whom were active for years as counsellors to the formerly disenfranchised and ethically insecure ‒ a broad category as one would expect given state capitalism in Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Eddi Rodney