Family members and friends as well as government officials and dignitaries were among the many mourners who gathered yesterday to pay their final respects to local business icon Dr Yesu Persaud.
Persaud, 93, passed away at his East Bank Demerara (EBD) home early last Monday morning.
He was remembered as a patriotic visionary who paved the way for emerging entrepreneurs with humility and compassion by persons who worked with him over the decades.
President Irfaan Ali attended the funeral service held at Persaud’s Nandy Park, EBD residence.
According to an Office of the President statement, Ali hailed Persaud for his many contributions towards the improvement of Guyana.
He said Persaud’s family and the entire Guyanese community have lost an “extraordinary soul who lived an extraordinary life.”
“As President, his examples in life is an inspiration and motivation to me to serve people with humility, simplicity and to do so to the best of my ability. He was never short of advice for me. He was very strong in his conviction about national unity. He was very strong in his conviction about the rule of law. He was very strong in his conviction for culture and religion, and he was strong in his conviction that we could do better for Guyana,” the statement quoted Ali saying.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud and representatives from the private sector accompanied Ali at the service at Persaud’s home.
After the funeral procession arrived in Georgetown, it passed by the corporate office of Demerara Bank on Camp Street and then proceeded to the Indian Monument Gardens on Camp and Church streets for the viewing to continue.
Mourners began to arrive at the venue at around 11:00 hrs, shortly after which a motorcade arrived with the hearse bearing Persaud’s body.
Covered with garlands, his casket was lifted from the hearse and placed at the centre of the stage in front of a huge banner which was adorned with pictures of Persaud’s life and achievements.
Lines were formed from under the tents in the compound leading up to the stage for the viewing to commence, with priority being given to family members.
During the one hour and a half ceremony, those who had gathered reflected on the life and memories they shared with Persaud.
Before it concluded, Persaud’s eldest daughter stood at the podium to deliver three final messages for one of his grandsons, a daughter-in-law and a son-in-law who were unable to attend the service. They each reminisced on the last moments they shared with Persaud, who they said always had an answer to every question and was a family to many who knew him.
Among those who attended the viewing at the Indian Monument Gardens was Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir; High Commissioner of India Dr K J Srinivasa, British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller; Ambassador of the United States of America Sarah-Ann Lynch, and Minister within the Minister of Local Government Anand Persaud.
Persaud was considered as the leading businessman of his era. He was associated for decades with Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and was also the founder of Guyana’s first indigenous bank, Demerara Bank Limited, where he retained a major role up to his passing.
Persaud, a chartered accountant, was also the brains behind the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), which has provided loans to thousands of small entrepreneurs over the years.
He was also well-known for his philanthropic work and played a key role in the activities of the Indian Commemoration Trust.
Persaud was also an ardent advocate for free and fair elections in the 90s and this saw his removal from the then Seals and Packaging Industries Limited during the Hoyte administration.
