ATTORNEY-at-Law and Chevening scholar Gino Persaud has called on the 2015 recipients of the British scholarship programme to return to Guyana and contribute to her development.Persaud made the appeal on Wednesday at a reception for 12 locals who will be pursuing studies in various disciplines at universities in the United Kingdom.
Addressing the scholarship awardees, Persaud said it is hoped that they are driven by the moral imperative, which compels them to do the right thing. “I strongly believe that a commitment by a scholar to return to Guyana to serve and work towards national development is also a decision made with ethical considerations and driven by the “moral imperative. I believe you already know whether you intend to return to serve Guyana in the short term or the long-term,” the attorney said.
He added: “Whether you will use your skills to contribute towards nation building or like some Chevening scholars before you, you will use it as a stepping stone to migrate to greener pastures. I say you already know because as I read somewhere integrity has no sliding scale.”
According to him, integrity is not a “90% thing” or a “95% thing”, contending that “you either have it or you don’t!”
Persaud told the scholars that he trusts that they all have it and are driven by the moral imperative, that is, an unrelenting and unrepentant disposition to return to serve for the long haul and make outstanding contributions towards nation-building and improving the country’s fragile democracy.
“I wish to throw out to you a few challenges on your return to Guyana. As Chevening scholars with newly acquired skills, you will be more equipped than others, with the intellectual capital, the authority and the wherewithal to challenge the status quo and make a difference. Hold your new government accountable.”
“You will now be additional guardians charged with preserving, protecting, promoting and improving upon our fledgling and fragile democracy. Stake your claim in this journey of nation-building. Guyana needs a new political culture. This will not happen with the current generation. You belong to a new generation that has the potential to achieve this,” he said.
Be fearless
He told the scholarship awardees that as Chevening scholars, they are expected to be fearless, have the coverage and the fortitude to hold their elected leaders accountable and call them to account publicly when they deviate from the national agenda.
Persaud pointed out that the greatest infractions are occasioned when those who are educated and learned are indifferent towards injustice and excesses and refuse to act. “Do not return to Guyana and become a bureaucrat, losing yourself in the comfort and convenience of a cushy 9-5 job, pushing pen and paper and watching the clock. I’ve seen a few Chevening scholars return to public service doing exactly that. They’ve made no useful contribution to Guyana. Stand for something!
“We live in a modern world of increasing individualism. But individualism is sometimes a euphemism for selfishness. We are all in this Guyana boat together. We sink or swim together or as Martin Carter so powerfully put it,” Persaud said in his erudite charge.
The scholarship awardees are Tiffany Castello who will pursue an LLM in International Human Rights Law at Brunel University; Mark Greene an MSc in Civil Engineering at the University of Birmingham; Alicia Primo an LLM in Law and Economics at University of Reading; Dr Quincy Jones an MSc in Health Policy, Planning and Financing at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Amir Dillawar an MSc in Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy Systems at University of Leeds; Vivianna Critchlow an MSc in Hydrogeology and Water Management at Newcastle University; Omattie Madray an MSc in Conflict, Displacement and Human Security at the University of East London; Dinesh Persaud an MSc in Web Technology from the University of Southampton; Abbygale Jeffrey-Alvin- an MSc in Cardiology at Canterbury Christ Church University; Denise Jourdain an MA in Childhood and Youth Studies; Cleveland Sullivan an MSc in Computing at the University of Dundee;  and Vishal Persaud an MSc in Energy and the Environment at the University of Leeds.