Dear Editor,
I was saddened on receiving the news of the passing of Dr Odeen Ishmael last Saturday. Cde Odeen gave a full life of service to his country, people and party during his illustrious career of over four decades. He has set the bar high as a student at the University of Guyana, teacher and diplomat to be emulated. My first acquaintance with him was in the late seventies as a leader in the Progressive Youth Organisation (PYO). In July of 1978, the PNC government refused the PYO the use of the Bath Primary School for the holding of its congress. Last-minute preparation led to it being successfully held under a tent. Here is where I heard Cde Odeen give one of the most inspiring opening addresses at this most successful congress. Inspired by this the PYO played a major role in the campaign for a successful boycott of the infamous Referendum in July 1978. I worked as a polling agent to observe first hand a ninety percent boycott.
Cde Odeen’s political activism rose to its highest level at the University of Guyana in the early seventies. Here, he and his friend and Comrade Navin Chandarpal, both leaders of the PYO, led the students from the front for improved conditions on Campus. Some years ago in the archives of the Mirror newspaper, I saw a photograph of Cde Odeen then a student leading a large demonstration on the PNC government’s refusal to accept the recommendation of the University Appointments Committee headed by the Vice Chancellor Dr Dennis Irving on the hiring of Dr Walter Rodney, a world renowned historian. Despite his political activism, protesting the termination of lecturers Dr Mohamed Inshanally and Kathleen Drayton, the wife of Dr Harold Drayton a trail blazer in the formation of the University of Guyana, and being elected president of the Student Council at UG, Cde Odeen graduated with top honours in geography. He received the Chancellor’s Medal for his academic performance if memory serves me correctly. In the 70’s both Cde Odeen and Navin were role models for youths across the length and breadth of Guyana.
In February 1977, when teachers in Berbice went on strike over the arbitrary dismissal of Chetram Singh, a maths graduate master at Corentyne High School, Cde Odeen provided all the support to the teachers to ensure their voices were heard. Some of the teachers on strike were his batch mates at University in likes of Kadir Hussain, S K Singh and the Drepaul brothers. His own career as a teacher was remarkable. He found time to organise seminars and discussions on topical political issues and moreover was a prolific writer. It was therefore not surprising that after the PPP/C won the 1992 elections he was appointed Guyana’s Ambassador to the United States in 1993.
Ambassador Ishmael’s career as a diplomat was outstanding. He also served as Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS) and chairman of the OAS Permanent Council for a number of years. The US congress paid a special tribute to him for his service as Ambassador in 2002. As ambassador, he promoted Dr Cheddi Jagan’s idea of a New Global Human Order at every forum especially at the United Nations. I also heard him delivering one of the most inspiring Red House lectures on the New Human Global Order in March 2004.
In my discussion with Cde Odeen, he cherished his days at the University of Guyana. He pointed out to me that despite making extraordinary demands that Dr Dennis Irving with his hands tied was always prepared to deliver for the betterment of the University. He had a good knowledge of history and accumulated a catalogue of historical facts and was also a prolific writer. He will be sadly missed for his simplicity, openness, positive outlook to issues and elegance.
May his soul rest in peace.
Yours faithfully,
Rajendra Rampersaud
