Dear Editor,
Guyana’s highest national award, ‘The Order of Excellence,’ that was conferred upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India when he visited Guyana in November 2024, has given additional impetus to calls for the activation of the National Awards programme that was established under the ‘Constitution of the Orders of Guyana’ in 1970. It was in New York in 2023 at a reception in South Jamaica, Queens, that President Dr Irfaan Ali, who is also the Chancellor of the Orders of Guyana, promised that his government would activate the national awards. That decision was enthusiastically received by the audience. Guyanese know that when the President makes a promise, he delivers on it. They expect this to happen in 2025.
The national awards programme has had an unsteady ride. It ran from 1970 to 2002, when it was discontinued by the PPP/C government which claimed that it (government) was under siege following the daring prison-outbreak on Mash Day 2002 when 5 notorious prisoners began a reign of terror and who proclaimed that they were “freedom fighters.” Without any respite, another group on July 2, 2002, stormed the Presidential complex with attendant mayhem in an effort to overthrow the government. The various attempts by insurgents to make the country ungovernable lasted for the 4 succeeding years. But the fear of social upheaval spilled over into succeeding years.
The national awards programme was therefore not in force between the period 2002 to 2010. It was activated by President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo in October 2011. However, from 2012-2014 President Donald Ramoutar administration was apparently overtaken by governance challenges linked to its minority status, and the awards system was not activated. Notwithstanding, APNU+AFC government activated the awards program during the period 2015-2020, but for 2021 to 2024 under the new PPPC administration it has not been activated. Why? There were allegations that the award process had procedural defects and had been tainted by corruption.
If these allegations raise doubts on the viability of the system, then the government should proceed to clean them up. A national institution like the ‘Orders of Guyana’ must be embraced, respected, and preserved. One effective way to make the system robust is to set out minimum standards of requirements for each class of awards and develop a points system. Also, the Advisory Body should be representative of all segments of the society. At a minimum level, the following standards should be considered: (I) A nominee must submit two
testimonials from established community leaders, professionals, and NGOs; (2) the nominee must have a clear mission and stated objectives; (3) he/she must produce evidence of a track record of service of a consistently high standard for 10+ years; (4) show how his/her operations impact a neighbourhood/community or the country; and (5) present articles/publications/citations of work in the related field. Each standard could be assigned a score and the nominee(s) who scored the highest can be recommended for an award.
For the benefit of readers, the classes of existing awards are identified into two broad categories; namely, civilian and disciplined services. Here is the civilian category: (i) Order of Excellence (limit of 25 living persons); (ii) Order of Roraima (limit of 35 living persons); (iii) Cacique Crown of Honour (limit to 50 citizens); (iv) Golden Arrow of Achievement (no limit); (v) Medal of Service (no limit). The Disciplined Services category covers (i) Military Service Star (no limit-reserved for army, paramilitary forces); (ii) Military Service Medal (no limit-reserved for army and paramilitary forces); Disciplined Services Star (no limit- reserved for Police. Prison, Fire Service).
Recognizing Guyanese for their outstanding and exceptional work in their respective areas of operation provides not only inspiration for others to follow their path and even do better, but also, takes them nearer to self-actualization. The PPP/C government should therefore activate the institution of the Orders of Guyana to recognize Guyanese who excel in their respective tasks and have had a profound impact on their respective communities and even beyond.
Sincerely,
Dr Tara Singh
