Dear Editor,
Congratulations to the 11 recipients of honourary doctorates from the University of Guyana. Commendations to the selection committee at UG for doing a fine job with the Guyanese identified for this distinguishing award. They have all earned the honour through long and dedicated service in their fields of calling.
Of the 11 names listed, I have had the good fortune to meet only two of them. Dr. Vic Insanally, who I had some interactions with to arrange the publishing of two books locally. In the tightest description, I found the businessman honest and knowledgeable; the professional calm and possessing an old world courteousness, even reserve; and a man who greeted the vagaries of circumstances with an equanimity that was beyond profound. As a newly arrived re-migrant in the homeland, it was a good beginning. It is better that this moment of recollection of that fleeting association is left untouched by what has been the experiences since then. Dr. Insanally has been honoured by UG; he has done Guyana honourable. He is a man and a citizen, a contributor and a presence that has done all of us honour. I think of Dr. Insanally, and I yearn for more like him in this country. In how business is done. In how a profession is pursued and the heights to which it has been lived, the grace that is etched in every footstep. Well done, sir! Step forward to the dais and receive the humble honour of a delighted community. There must be many more than just me.
Miz. Pauline Thomas is the only other honourary recipient that I have had a passing face-to-face with, and on more than one occasion. It has to be more than a half century ago, which should emphasize how evergreen both of us are. When I first heard that voice through the only mass media communication channel then existing in Guyana, the initial reaction was – what is this? When she was first pointed out to me, already a medium range celebrity growing more voluptuous by the episode (the hope is that she is tickled by that one), the reaction was ‘so this is ‘who.’ A real-life character full of energy, bubbly, and brimming to overflowing with a type of humor that covered all over the hilarity spectrum. It is better to play it safe through nuance. Auntie Comesee was aunt and neighbour and comic confidante to a generation of Guyanese, the one who had this knowledge of local things that was out of this world, and funny to boot. She was a working neighbour, which was about as close as I came to a formidable and multi-talented daughter of Guyana. Thanks for the laffs, those gags and gigs; a worthwhile awardee through and through.
Of the other nine Guyanese honoured, I know the names and reputations of only four. It is my loss. Drs. Chris Fernandes and Eze Rockcliffe stand out due to the sheer weight of their lifetime contributions to this country in fields that could not have been different. To all of the other honoured recipients, I offer a sparse and meager encomium. Each record touches with a certain distinction. Each has produced a stream of enlightenment on the way things should be done and citizenship lived. Each has an enduring quality that resonates and transcends our time, and should serve as a powerful inspiration to every Guyanese. I am inspired, and that is one difficult bar to scale. In closing, I wish to revisit the work of the people at UG who considered and culled, who weighed and worked through what had to have been an arduous undertaking. They have done extremely well, which is something that I wish there is opportunity to be written more often in this country. I would like to do so, for then what would there be, if not a better Guyana. The final word is that a standard has been set by the UG honourary doctorate selection committee (and other decision-makers) that should be the one used by the national awards committee. In the shortest and sweetest rendition (both Dr. Insanally and Dr. Thomas should chuckle), let national awards be given to those who have truly earned them, and truly deserve them. At least, I think so and urge that it be so.
Sincerely,
GHK Lall