FOUR persons were awarded yesterday for their achievements and outstanding contributions toward social, democratic and scientific developments in Guyana by President Bharrat Jagdeo at State House, Main Street. The four awarded were Dr. Suresh Narine, Yash Paul Soi,  Ramesh Kalicharran and Pandit Ramlall. However, the latter two were not present as they are overseas.
President Jagdeo told the awardees, their family members and well wishers that “these are very special people and I wanted to make sure that their contributions are recognised”.  This follows on the heels of Friday’s National Awards ceremony at the National Cultural Centre where over 100 Guyanese were honoured for  yeoman service to their country.
Soi, who is an Indian national, and Kallicharran and Pandit Ramlall were very much involved in the struggle to restore democracy, having played an important role during the difficult years in helping the founder of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr. Cheddi Jagan in the struggle.
“Most of you know that those three decades of undemocratic rule took a significant toll on Guyana, not just in terms of development but in terms of losing its most valuable assets, its people…most of them had to migrate to seek their fortunes elsewhere, because of depression and the lack of freedom,” President Jagdeo said.
Dr. Narine,  pioneer of the introduction of biodiesel technology and investments in Guyana has made significant progress both in Canada and Guyana.
Dr Narine is  Director of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology and the Trent Centre for Biomaterials Research, and was awarded a $1.25M Ontario Research Chair in Green Chemistry and Engineering from the Council of Ontario Universities, in collaboration with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in 2010. He was also awarded a $3M senior industrial research chair in biomaterials from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Today, Dr Narine continues to work with IAST for the development of his home country.
In this regard, the President said that Guyana has made achievements over  recent years and is grateful to those persons who are making special efforts in helping to build an even better country. (GINA)