– 29 doctors among 92 scholarship graduates urged to give back to Guyana
If all the Cuban scholarships offered to students of Guyana were to be quantified, they would exceed US$100 million and for a country forced since 1959 to endure an economic embargo, this is a generous gift to the people of Guyana. So said President Bharrat Jagdeo who was speaking yesterday at the Public Service Ministry’s graduation ceremony – held at the National Cultural Centre – for students who had been offered Government scholarships in Cuba and other places. “It shows the humanitarian nature of the people of Cuba,” President Jagdeo said of the Cuban scholarships.
The President marveled at the diverse nature of the group of students, saying that they are well suited to the national task. He said Government sought to match areas of study to where the country is going.
Some ninety-two students in various fields received their certificates from the Government of Guyana for the successful completion of their courses of study, the majority of them being medicine, in Cuba, New Zealand, the USA, the UK and in the Caribbean. Among the batch are 29 doctors, all of whom took the Hippocratic Oath at the ceremony.
Among the other areas of study that Government identified as important for the country’s development are agronomy, chemical and civil engineering, computer sciences and architecture. Persons trained in these areas will support the Guyana of tomorrow, the President said.
Delivering the feature address, President Jagdeo urged the graduates to commit to service in their respective fields and put aside people’s political affiliations or any other distinguishing factor.
The President said the ceremony is a ritual that is done every year, but he said that it is a pleasant undertaking. Guyana, he said, has great promise and this is why the Government is making the investment in the students.
“I think that every Guyanese can play a role in the development of the country. I hope that you use the years of study productively,” he stressed, adding that they must not only be academically excellent, but also well rounded so that they could integrate with people from all walks of society, especially in their service to the populace.
“Each service you provide has a link to a bigger picture. Ensure that you maintain and develop a strong sense of who you are and what your value systems are,” he said. “Ensure that you don’t become bigoted. Develop multi-cultural skills and values,” he added.
The President implored the graduates not to let their personal difficulties turn into suffering for the people they are meant to serve. “You have been trained using public money to serve the people. If we all commit to that then the country will develop faster,” the President posited.
He said Government is extremely proud of all the graduates. “You deserve the appreciation of all Guyana,” he declared.
The President noted that parents and relatives of the students have selflessly supported them throughout the course of their study.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Public Service Dr. Jennifer Westford told the students that the Government of Guyana and those of Cuba and of the other scholarship countries have given them an asset. She urged that when they enter the workforce,  they must demonstrate the very dedication that earned them their qualifications. “We are giving you the tools, we want you to excel,” she said. “Be innovative. Don’t sit in the workplace and follow suit,” she added.
In attendance at the ceremony were Cuban Ambassador to Guyana, Raul Gorcazar Marrero, and several Ministers of the Cabinet.