FORMER Education Minister, Dr. Dale Bisnauth died at the Caribbean Heart Institute (CHI) in Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) compound yesterday morning.
Following the announcement, the Ministry of Education extended sincere condolences to his family and friends, on behalf of the present minister, Ms. Priya Manickchand, officers and staff.

A ministry release credited Bisnauth for several successful initiatives within the education sector, including the design and implementation of the Secondary Schools Reform Project, the initiation of the Basic Education Access to Management Support Programme, and the implementing of desk manuals for senior managers at the school, regional and national levels.
The release said, “With the passing of Reverend Dr. Bisnauth, Guyana has lost a good son who lived his life in service and whose love for humanity manifested itself in tangible contributions to our dear Guyana and her people.”
The statement recalled that Bisnauth served as Minister of Education from October 1992 to March 2001, and said the ministry’s thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and all of Guyana at this time.

Opposition Leader David Granger
DR. DALE Bisnauth was a well known academician, he was an historian and also a theologian and I think his service in those fields was exemplary. I think that about from 1992 to 2006 he was Minister of Education in the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration. But I think he would be best remembered for his work as a historian. He has completed a very important book, which I think was his doctoral thesis, on the Indians in Guyana. He has also written on comparative religion in the West Indies, and will be remembered for those works.

APNU MP Dr. Rupert Roopnarine
I WAS devastated when I got the news of Dr. Bisnauth’s passing. I had no idea he was in such a shaky condition. I was told about it first thing this (yesterday) morning and can imagine the devastation of his wife and children. I am really deeply saddened. Dale really gave his energies and talents to the development of the country. He served us well. I think his death is a loss to the nation.

Minister Clement Rohee
I FELT the pain of my friend and colleague Dr. Dale Biosnauth’s passing. We worked together even when we were in the opposition. He was a very staunch believer in Christ and was very active in the Caribbean Council of Churches and at one time was the Editor for the Caribbean Contact newspaper, where he wrote political pieces. He wrote very educational articles, from which a lot of people learnt a lot. In fact, even before meeting him personally, I met him through his articles in the Caribbean Contact.
Soon after, Dr. Cheddi Jagan began the campaign for the ’92 General Elections, and because of Dr. Jagan’s close association with the Caribbean Council of Churches, the council made a significant contribution to the restoration of democracy in Guyana.
And I think Dale, as a Guyanese, saw the importance of making a further contribution, and subsequently resigned from the Caribbean Contact and the Caribbean Council of Churches, and came to Guyana and was very actively involved in the political campaign. I think because of his level of scholarship – because of his intellectual prowess and also because he was ‘a man of the people’, through the churches, Dr. Jagan felt that connection with him, because he was of similar texture. Because of that connection he (Dr. Bisnauth) was invited to join the Cabinet as the first Minister of Education of the PPP/C Government elected in 1992.
He and I became very close friends.  He officiated at my wedding ceremony and he has been a very close family friend in many, many respects. He knows all my children; everybody in my family. Whenever we needed somebody to talk to – to counsel us, we would go to him for advice.

APNU’s Volda Lawrence
I HAD the privilege of serving in the National Assembly with Dr. Bisnauth and I always remember his quiet friendly demeanour. He was a person of quiet dignity- always friendly, always willing to listen, and ready speak to you, while always giving good advice. This was remarkable, especially since he sat on the other side of the aisle.  It was significant also, that he was the guest speaker at the Convocation for the American School of Guyana.  I’ve served with Dr. Dale Bisnauth on several committees also, and he always brought positive remarks or information on the way forward, and how we can overcome difficulties, and I’ll remember him for those things.  He was indeed a wonderful person.

Presidential Adviser Gail Teixeira
ON BEHALF of the PPP/Civic and Members of Parliament, I must say we are very saddened and indeed shocked by former Minister Rev. Dr. Dale Bisnauth’s demise today (yesterday). He was a good Minister of Education, a good Minister of Labour and certainly we will miss him. As a historian, I believe that he also contributed to Guyana and we need more people like that, to record and document our past and put it in context. Certainly, as a religious leader, I think he was very respected, but he was a gentleman at all times, and certainly we extend our condolences to the family and his children and grandchildren as well.

Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
I THINK that the death of Dr. Dale Bisnauth leaves all of us diminished. Dr. Bishauth was a true nationalist who contributed to the restoration of democracy in our country. He has contributed to the governing of our country, particularly as Minister of Education. He was an extremely amicable person and got along with everybody and, as a historian and as a writer; he had much more to contribute to our country. I feel a personal sense of loss because we were very close and I think Guyana is diminished by his death.

Bishop Juan Edghill
DR. DALE Bisnauth, for me, was not so much a person I would remember as a politician, but more so as a Church leader –one who led the way in creating an environment for true ecumenical relationships. He was one who taught many of us younger people how to relate across denominational lines; how to embrace your faith, even when relating to people of other faiths, because there was a time in this country when the propagating of one’s faith meant the demonizing of another person’s faith. Dr. Bisnauth was the person who led the way in changing that culture, that you could promote your own faith, but you don’t have to demonize another person’s. He was a theologian of no mean order.  His strength was the focus of which he brought to bear in his pastoral theology as he helped shepherd and guide the behaviour and ministry of a lot of other young preachers.
His shepherding care saw many of us nurtured and guided by the way he taught. He was quite an educated man. Many of his lessons and stories that he told, I use them from time to time in my own discourse or pastoral work.  I am extremely grateful for the life he lived; the contribution he made towards Guyana’s development; the role he played as a leading light of Christianity, that extended the forms of democracy, henceforth, to ensure that social justice came to Guyana – standing in the corner of Dr. Jagan at that very crucial time as a member of the Civic component of the PPP/C; playing his role as a Cabinet member, prominent member and minister of government. His contribution to Guyana as a whole is to be remembered.

PPP/C’s Indra Chandarpal
IT IS very tragic, because Dale and myself, when the PPP came to power, we were like sitting next to one another as ministers, so over time we developed a good relationship and I remember him walking around the area where I live.
I thought he was in good health, so I was so shocked this (yesterday) morning to wake up and hear that he had passed on. I think that Guyana has lost a great son. He was a fine person and I think he has contributed a lot to the development of our country. Surely, he will be remembered, especially by his congregation at the Presbyterian Church and all those people who knew him, so may his soul rest in peace. Our condolences to his bereaved family members and friends.

Attorney-at-Law Bibi Shaddick
I REALLY am very saddened and very shocked. Dale was a good friend. He was a colleague and … it is very, very sad. This country has lost a brilliant historian. This is a loss for Guyana; a loss for the Presbyterian Church, a loss for the country as a whole. In all this business [with Parliament] I still am trying to come to terms with the loss. He was such a very quiet and unassuming person, but he was somebody who was of great value.

Minister Norman Whittaker
I HAVE known Dr. Bisnauth for in excess of two decades. While he worked as Minister of Education, I was attached to the North West Secondary School, and I remember his visit to Region 1 and to Mabaruma, and I recall also our interaction. I was a Maths teacher and he would enquire how I was getting along, because Maths was one of those difficult subjects to get across to students, so I do recall that. But even more importantly, I recall that I had left the profession for something more lucrative and it was Dr. Bisnauth who subsequently met me and persuaded me to get back into teaching. He told me that that is where I belong. And so I remember him as an educator and someone who advised people and I, myself benefitted from his advice. May his soul rest in peace and I send my sympathies to his relatives and friends.

APNU’s Desmond Trotman
WHEN I heard of Dr. Bisnauth’s death I was extremely surprised, because I thought that he was in the best of health. I know that he has made a very useful contribution to this society and his loss is going to be a terrific one. I want to extend my profound sympathy to his grieving wife and immediate relatives and friends also.