Dear Editor,
I’ve been closely observing Guyanese Presidents for three decades, rarely have I seen one as relaxed as President Ali at a special State House lunch for his alma mater – St Stanislaus-on Tuesday. Saints were having a week of celebration for the new refurbished science labs named in honour of Father Herbert Feeny who taught there for a quarter of a century, Feeny’s family had raised much money towards this aided by yours truly. Some Feeny family members were present. Their ‘seed money’ was complimented with alum funds from home and abroad and Guyana government money. A total of $52m Guy to produce spanking new labs to put Saints at the forefront of STEM education in Guyana.
Dr Ali is a proud Saints old boy, He recalled the journey from the West Coast Demerara sometimes starting at 04.45 to get time to play on the tarmac, with a neat irony the refurbishment of the labs was supervised by Dr. Kofi Dalrymple of the University of Guyana who was his dawn travelling companion. Kofi became the MC for the day and evening celebrations.
Irfaan is nothing if not a sociable politician. He worked the room shaking all 80 hands-including mine. Kind words for all especially Chris Fernandes, the chair of governors of the school. A delicious meal was served before, as you Guyanese say ‘brief remarks.’ In reality, a 15 minute trot through his school history and hopes for the future of it and education in general. In his words ’No child should be out of an educational space.’ He wanted Saints to become a centre of STEM excellence. Later at the formal lab opening in the school, he also announced he wanted it to be a ‘centre for innovation’. Millions of government dollars were to be put into demolishing old and building new classrooms in the cramped city centre school. His pride in being a ‘Saints Boy’ shone through the lunchtime and evening sessions. Even if sometimes in too prolix a form. He was surrounded at both celebrations by class mates and friends galore.
It was his digital announcements for tertiary education/training that were the most exciting; the creation of a Guyana Digital School offering digital assessment for Guyana and all of CARICOM. The Guyana National Training Centre in Port Mourant to be beefed up/Already it has its own model FPSO. That would become a Centre of Excellence for Offshore Training. The future is now for Guyana. And the past. The eleven year old boy in short pants travelling form Leonora to Brickdam daily still ever present in the State House lunch and the Labs opening. It was a rare opening window on a seasoned politician. I was privileged to be there.
Sincerely,
John ‘Bill Cotton/Reform’ Mair
