Every opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate our accomplishments should be esteemed. Often, the gloom and doom would appear to overshadow the hope, peace and happiness in our society. The achievements of our people should be celebrated as often as possible.
In the performing arts, we may not have annual awards that can compare to America’s Grammys or the Oscars or the United Kingdom’s Brit or BAFTA awards, but we are not producing the same volume of work as in those countries. Our population is much smaller and funding is scarce.
Some years ago, there were music awards. For literary arts, there is the Guyana Prize for Literature, which would see the conferral of awards every two years but since 2017 the future of the prize has been in doubt. For drama, there is the National Drama Festival, which also produces awards. Private institutions, such as the Theatre Guild of Guyana, have also in past years held awards where many writers, directors, actors and actresses gained recognition. We also have the National Awards, Youth Awards, Sports Awards and also Media Awards.
Still, many of our people will work diligently for years and will never be recognised. And while a person’s worth should not be measured by trophies, plaques or certificates, to be honoured is satisfying and is often a stimulus to be greater.
Every movement begins with a thought. Some of us are born with the inclination to lead while most of us are followers and will look to others for guidance. When we consider that there are over 7 billion of us on this planet and the countless others who have died, we may wonder if every life is here for a specific purpose. Is life ever an accident? Are there people who simply live and wait to die? We might evaluate the lives of some and think this to be true. But in many instances, those who seem worthless or helpless may teach us the meaning of humility and remind us about our frailty as human beings. Our lives are affected by the circumstances we were born into and we might lose sight of our purpose. Still, with determination, we can make a difference if we so desire.
Selwyn Collins is a Guyanese who is making a difference. He is a visionary who is serious about influencing the change we need in this country; change that breaks the barriers that have too long separated us, that blurs and erases the lines that many of us have been afraid to cross and that tells us, the time is now. Though he migrated in the 1980s, he has been returning to Guyana to host events that add to the light in our country. On Thursday, April 25th, one such event was held. The inaugural 40 under 40 Entrepreneurial Awards were held at the National Cultural Centre as part of Conversations with Selwyn’s Brand YOUth initiative. The theme was ‘Building Bridges, Passing Batons.’
Forty of Guyana’s brilliant and innovative young people were passed the baton. Though they were given a tangible baton, it was more of an emblematic act; for many of them have been carrying those batons by being brave, pursuing their dreams, persevering and building bridges.
The event was a reminder of the hope and potential that exists here. Guyana is not without the brilliance that is seen around the rest of the world. We are creators and innovators. We are gifted. The 40 awardees reflected the essence and power of who the Guyanese people are.
It was entrepreneurs who were awarded this time- many who simply wanted to make a difference because they felt there was a need; many who simply wanted to build their own bridge; and many who simply wanted to live through their art.
In conversations after with some of those who attended, it was reinforced how significant such an event was at this point in our country. Our future is strengthened when we honour young people. Some people spoke of being inspired to make the bold step to pursue their dreams. It is they who the batons were also passed to and who are now tasked with making the steps to build the bridges they have already conceptualised.
The fact is most of us will never have the opportunity to receive an award. We might question if we are worthy and if anyone will remember us when exit this world. But we all can start a movement or make a difference even in one life. It does not have to be big. To be recognised or help another human being we do not have to hear our names being announced and see our photographs published in the media; in little ways, we can let the people around us know that we appreciate them, and we value their work.
In the institution where the CEO sits in the biggest office, earns the most money and drives the best car, the janitor might not be recognised or seen as valued. But is one worthier than the other? Don’t they both contribute to the smooth functioning of the institution?
One thing that should encourage us to treat others as equals and to appreciate people regardless of their backgrounds or socioeconomic status is the fact that none of us are here forever. We all will die eventually. And while in some instances having more money will prolong lives because of access to better healthcare, diet and such, in the end, we will decompose the same way, burn the same way and what people will remember is how we treated them and whether we were a decent human being.
