Dear Editor,
He has been High Commissioner in London for just three years. Yet in that time he has cemented his place in the lives of the diaspora through his actions. They showed their thanks by seventy showing up for a special Guyana Speaks event on the Sunday after Christmas. HC Case kicked it off with a somewhat discursive report on the state of oil in Guyana. He had much to report with the early advent of ‘first oil’ and more. He implored the audience to go back ‘home’ and offer their skills to the nation’s burgeoning oil economy citing examples of those who might want to give back. Sally Gibson, a Guyanese-born lawyer and Francis Kiernan, an Aberdeen-based oil entrepreneur supported him.
The Q and A was very Guyanese – plenty opinions, few questions.
In the half hour tribute at the end, co-ordinated by me, praise was extended from Toronto by Komal Samaroo the Chairman of DDL who had started at Booker’s Rum on the same day as HC Case, from his fellow Ambassador in the USA Riyad Insanally who called him a ‘true Guyanese Patriot’, from the floor and maybe from Guyana by British High Commissioner Greg Quinn to whom the Skype connection failed. One of the warmest was made from the floor by the newly decorated Sir Clive Lloyd, a surprise attendee. Later the Guyanese and West Indies Cricket Legend was ambushed by the selfie brigade.
The warmth in the room in Tooting was tangible-especially once HC Case proffered a round of drinks. His health was heartily drunk to but he will be sorely missed in London.
Yours faithfully,
John’Bill Cotton/Reform’ Mair
