I write to thank Shri Danny Doobay, Guyana’s outgoing Consular General (CG) in Toronto for his 12 years of selfless service to his nation. Although I do not know the gentleman and we never met, I received only positive comments about him from the Guyanese Diaspora during trips to Toronto. I was in Toronto last October and spoke with Guyanese about him. They love him and wish if he can stay on rather than demit office. I hope the government of Guyana would consider Doobay for honour in its next year’s list of honorees in service to the nation.
A farewell reception was recently held in Toronto recognising his service to the greater Toronto community and to our country.  It attracted a packed hall of over 500 of diverse background, a testament to his popularity and likeability.  Speakers showered praises on his work.  Indeed he worked and few represented Guyana overseas the way he did. He was saluted for his commitment and dedication to his country, a job that comes with very little financial remuneration.  And it came with tremendous sacrifice to his loving family and financial losses. His children noted they are glad they will have their father back.
As papers reported, Doobay leaves behind a rich legacy of achievements. He had tremendous outreach and worked with many groups, including non-Guyanese, to benefit Guyanese and our country. He brought together Guyanese of different ethnicity in Toronto.  He partook in festivities of all groups and never missed religious celebrations that Guyanese hold dear.
Over the last twelve years, Danny, as he is popularly called, has raised Guyana’s stature among Canadians and he has made Guyanese Canadians become more interested in the affairs of their former homeland. It was noted that he established the annual Guyana independence celebrations in Toronto, to which I was invited on several occasions. He initiated the Guyana Awards programme and a scholarship programme. He pioneered the Guyana Festival. He was also instrumental in getting going the Cross-Canada celebrations and the Guyana-Canada Chamber of Commerce. And he was constantly raising funds for various benefit programmes in Guyana.  He was also at the popular duck curry competitions that attracted thousands every year.
Doobay felt it an honour to serve people. In his thank you speech at the reception, Doobay said: “Serving you for the last years has been the highest distinction of my life.  I will forever be grateful to those men and women who have embraced my vision of a more developed Guyana, of improving the quality of life for our brethren, of building the most patriotic community in the Guyanese Diaspora, and of showcasing our heritage to Canadian society”.
I thank Shri Danny Doobay for his sacrifice on behalf of our nation and the dignified manner he represented our homeland in Canada.