GUYANESE have undoubtedly noted with interest recent news coverage of Warwick University’s decision to rename their Centre of Caribbean Studies after Guyana’s very own Yesu Persaud. On the surface, this is an honour for the man, the companies he is associated with, and his country. However, in the interest of putting to rest some obvious speculations that have started to circulate across society, and to place the shareholders of the companies he chairs at ease, it would be useful if the good Mr. Persaud would answer the following questions:

1. Has DDL or Demerara Bank ever made donations or any form of financial contributions to Warwick University? If so, how much in total, and over what period? And, is there any commitment by either of these companies to continue making such donations or financial contributions to the University?

2. Were the shareholders of these companies ever consulted, or informed of these donations?

3. Have these donations been treated as a tax deductible expense in the accounts of those companies?

4. On what basis did the companies decide that these donations should be made?

5. If donations were made, or commitment for future donations made, on what basis did Mr. Persaud decide, that is the best use of these funds which belong to shareholders’ and not to Mr. Persaud himself? The funds of DDL and Demerara Bank are, after all, not his personal property.

6. If donations were made from the companies (or more precisely from shareholder funds at these companies), why was the Centre not named after the companies, so as to generate some corporate publicity, instead of being named after the Chairman?

7. What benefits will flow from the companies as a result of these donations to Warwick University? Were these compared with possible benefits that would have flowed if a similar donation was made to the University of Guyana?

8. Does Mr. Persaud believe that the naming of this institution after himself is in keeping with the virtue of modesty that he traditionally likes to portray himself as embracing? Or, would he not agree that it is a vulgar exercise in egotistical self-aggrandisement? Hopefully, this was not done at shareholder expense.

I am sure that the answer to these questions would go a long way to reassuring the shareholders of these companies. I am also sure that certain media houses would be reluctant to publish this letter because of their links to Mr. Persaud and their dependence on advertising from his companies. But let us see if they defy this expectation.

Thank you very much.