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Feb 25, 2014 News
The past two Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Governments have awarded national honours only once each- in 2002 and 2011 – and this Government has made no awards.
This was the blistering observation made by former Party Executive, Ralph Ramkarran, in his latest writings.
According to Ramkarran, those Guyanese who toil selflessly for a lifetime in service of their country, even if most of the truly deserving makes their contribution without the thought of national recognition, have ceased being acknowledged.
“As a result everyone now appears to have forgotten that a system of national honours exists and the sense of anticipation at an annual announcement, be it on Republic Day or Independence Day, has completely dissipated.”
Ramkarran noted that as Guyana celebrated its 44th Republic Anniversary, there were no announcements of National Awards as had been the case previously.
“In the past it meant a lot for our country that those who lead by selfless example should be recognized for what they do, as well as being representative of what many others are doing, because not every deserving person can receive a national honour. “
He noted that the recognition of national heroes helps to build patriotism, a national ethos, commitment to service and greater effort, set examples for and inspiration to youth, and establish narratives about great Guyanese who achieve so much.
“All of these reasons, and more, why national honours exist in countries have been forgotten in Guyana and the system of national honours has been cast aside as a useless relic.”
He noted that the award of national honours is statute based.
According to Ramkarran, who is also a Senior Counsel, the Honours Committee is headed by the Chancellor of the Judiciary and makes non-political recommendations based on nominations it receives from all kinds of bodies.
It now advertises for nominations as well and its recommendations still include retiring civil servants, nurses, teachers, social workers, cultural workers, business entrepreneurs, sports personalities and others.
The recommendations then go to the President who would normally add his own honourees, mainly of political but perhaps of other deserving persons he may wish to have included.
According to Ramkarran, more than 10 years in total have elapsed during which “those Guyanese, and they are many, who have toiled for the benefit of our nation have remained and will remain forgotten.” Ramkarran observed that since no explanations have been given, “we must assume that the past Governments did not, and the current one does not, believe either that there are Guyanese or enough Guyanese who qualify, or that national honours should be retained.”
He used as an example of an egregious omission, Wordsworth McAndrew.
According to Ramkarran, in 2007 McAndrew was ailing and it was a matter of urgency that he be considered.
“A substantial effort, made at about that time, to obtain a national honour for him in 2007 did not succeed…But others far less deserving were individually honoured just months later.”
He died in 2008 and according to Ramkarran, “as it turned out, empty promises were made to honour this national treasure in some way.”
He noted that even in 2011 when a long list of persons was honoured, including posthumously, Wordsworth’s name was omitted.
He noted that Republic Day which was just celebrated with the much revered Mashramani, would have been a great day to recognize Wordsworth’s vast contribution to Guyana’s cultural wealth, exemplified by his unforgettable narrative poem, ‘Old Higue,’ by naming an event for him for his vast contribution to Guyana’s cultural wealth.
“His case is one of the best examples of those who have worked selflessly for Guyana for a lifetime just for the love of doing so.”
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