LAST Friday, for the second consecutive year, His Excellency President Donald Ramotar graced with his presence and participation the annual gift-sharing to the elderly in the Cane Grove/Strathavon communities.

This event and a children’s Christmas party have become annual activities organised by members of the Cane Grove Reunion, based in New York, and are currently spearheaded in the local chapter by Member of Parliament Dharamkumar Seeraj.
In brief remarks before introducing the President, chief organizer of the local chapter, Dharamkumar Seeraj, who also has roots in the community, lauded Kenrick Gopaul, Ivor Ramphal, and others of the New York-based group for honouring and taking care of the elderly in the community, among the other activities they plan and implement within the community.
He also congratulated the volunteers in the community who, year after year, work hard to make the various events success stories, which he said could be emulated and used as a model for other communities.
Having been present at the organisation’s 2010 annual fund-raising dinner and dance gala in New York, Seeraj recalled meeting some of the old people who had helped bring him up, including his former headmaster, Mr. Williams, who had attended the event with his family, even though he had to lean heavily on his cane.
He also praised the Gopaul children, who save all year long so that they could make contributions to the organization’s charitable activities.
Promising that the organisation’s healthcare programmers will initiate another medical outreach early in 2013, with additional local medical personnel spearheaded by Dr. Carl Niamatalli, as usual in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Seeraj said this is to boost the excellent healthcare being provided by the community’s health centre.

President lauds Cane Grove Reunion Group for remembering their home community
President Donald Ramotar opined that last Friday’s activity was the Cane Grove Reunion’s recognition and appreciation of the contributions of the elderly to the society during their prime years. Taking care of the elders, he asserted, is the group’s way of expressing thanks.
He exhorted other Guyanese in the diaspora to use as an example this worthwhile initiative by the Cane Grove Reunion Group in their drive to enhance the lives of the elderly and other vulnerable groups in their respective home communities.
He expressed his satisfaction in sharing, for the second time, the group’s attempts to honour the elderly in their home community, despite being domiciled in another country, which he acclaimed as a tremendous contribution to the Cane Grove community, in particular, and the country as a whole.
He extolled the work of the diasporic committee and its local chapter for great humanitarian efforts to show respect for, and taking care of the elderly in the society; which he said parallels the PPP’s continuum of appreciation for the contributions made by the patriots of yesteryear to the various freedom struggles, as well as the development of the country.
The President recognised that the Cane Grove community was always supportive of the PPP in all its nation-building endeavours.  He said the immense achievements of Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Mrs. Janet Jagan, and the development of the country to date could not have been possible without the contributions, over the years, of the elders of the society.
Asserting that the Cane Grove Reunion Group has set a very good example, worthy of emulation by other Guyanese in the diaspora, President Ramotar informed the gathering that a Diaspora Committee has been formed in the Ministry of Home Affairs to facilitate such activities, as well as to establish a data base of expertise that the Government could tap into whenever the need arises.
Seeraj reminisced that during his boyhood, he had never met, not even seen in life, then President LFS Burnham, whereas the presidents of the successive PPP Governments are easily accessible to young and old alike.  The Group gives back to the community in another way, he said, in that the provision of the hampers is contracted to local businesses – a different one every year.
President Donald Ramotar then assisted in distributing the hampers, which comprised of a 7 or  8 lb chicken, rice, flour, oil, sugar, salt, onions, garlic, peas, potatoes, soda and other items, to sixty elderly and vulnerable persons, a number which will be extended to seventy in 2013, according to Seeraj.
Apart from the annual Christmas hamper, those persons had also received a monthly food package to the sum of $3,500, as well as other assistance that may be needed from time to time.
Last year, the Cane Grove Reunion Group Inc. also partnered with M.P. Dharamkumar Seeraj and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, in a toy-drive Christmas Cheer, which was delivered to the children of the area by the presentation of 358 presents/ toys. Another such children’s Christmas party is planned for next Thursday.
Among the local volunteers are Modas Sukhna; Tandika (Pet) Gonzales and her son Tony; Mr. And Mrs Hakim Allim;  Indira, and others.

The Cane Grove Reunion Group Inc. is a non-governmental organization that is run by an overseas-based group.

Medical and sports packages also donated
As a joint effort by the Cane Grove overseas-based group and the Culture Ministry, residents of Cane Grove were, earlier in the year, also recipients of medical supplies and sporting equipment donated by the Cane Grove Reunion Group of New York and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, in his remarks at the distribution ceremony, stated that the activity would not have been possible had it not been for the tireless efforts of those residents responsible for laying the ground work in Cane Grove, and those from the community that would have migrated.
He also said that the efforts of mostly those of the reunion group residing in New York demonstrate commitment towards improving the lives of those in the village of whom they would have had fond memories.
Minister Anthony urged those receiving the sporting gear not to treat them as personal assets, but rather as community assets from which everyone from the community will benefit.
In 2009, three computers were donated to the Virginia Primary School and two to the Cane Grove Primary School. The group has also made a number of contributions to religious communities since its formation in 2008, as well as donated wheelchairs and other medical packages to residents.
To date, included in the packages have been medical care packages, wheelchairs,  walkers, sets of crutches, footballs, volleyballs, tennis racquets, cricket gear, packs of tennis balls, and other donations to religious bodies and schools, both in training of volunteers and in provision of equipment, such as computers and school kits.
Established in November 2008, the group, as of September 2012, has completed four years in its efforts to assist the elderly, needy, schools and the Cane Grove/ Strathavon community as a whole.