– national awardees react to recognition by the State

FOUNDER of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Guyana, Karen Abrams said she is truly humbled to be recognised by the people of Guyana. Abrams is among 96 outstanding Guyanese, who come October, will be presented with National Awards ranging from the Cacique’s Crown of Honour (CCH) to the Disciplined Services Medal (DSM).

Forty-nine women from various fields are among those who will be conferred with National Awards by President David Granger, and Abrams tops the distinguished list.
“Truly I am humbled to receive this prestigious award, but it really reflects the work of an entire village of people who funded, encouraged, volunteered for and otherwise supported the STEM Guyana mission. To the entire village, I am grateful,” Abrams said.
On October 6, when the Investiture Ceremony is held, she will receive the Golden Arrowhead of Achievement Award.

“It was important to develop the STEM Guyana programme because of the technology future which awaits Guyana’s young people. I have long been convinced that once given the opportunity, our young people would rise to the challenge every time and indeed there are many instances of this in the news.

“Although we do not know what the future holds, we know with 100 per cent certainty that our young people’s future will include technology, so whether they intend on becoming lawyers, doctors, entertainers or entrepreneurs, technology will profoundly impact their careers. Robots and artificial intelligence will impact nearly every job in existence in some way and we wanted to prepare our young people for that,” Abrams told Guyana Chronicle on Sunday, as she reflected on the importance of STEM.

Founder of the Nations University Brian O’Toole is also among the 41 Guyanese identified to receive the Golden Arrowhead of Achievement Award. O’Toole told this newspaper that his accomplishments were achieved with the support of many.

“Like any award, be it for cinema, literature, or business, there are always many, many persons who contributed to the award, in our case it is the almost 200 staff that meet the needs of the 3,000 students at Nations,” O’Toole said.

He noted that there are exciting times ahead for the university, even as he pointed to recent developments. “One of our most exciting developments now is the partnership we have with the Ministry of Education to offer the Certificate in Educational Leadership course from Cambridge University throughout Guyana.

“We are also about to introduce 14 masters courses from the University of Bedfordshire in the UK. The Golden Arrowhead will surely be an invaluable catalyst to these various plans,” the educator said.

From the batch of 96 awardees, 46 are in line to be bestowed with the Medal of Service, representing the largest group of awardees. Desiree Edghill, who is undoubtedly a household name in Guyana, is among the outstanding Guyanese who will this year receive the Medal of Service Award for their contributions to Guyana in various fields.

MANY HATS
Edghill is a woman of many hats – a health educator with focus on raising awareness on HIV/AIDS and actress just to name a few. Edghill told the Guyana Chronicle that she feels honoured to be recognised by the people of Guyana, noting that her work was done out of love.
“It is always great to be recognised for work done to help make my country a better place, and I have had many awards for both my contribution to theatre in Guyana and my work in addressing social issues, although I did it all out of love. But I was humbled when I got the call, even got emotional. I had to ask Mr. Vic Persaud for a minute to compose myself, before we continued the conversation. Although I can’t explain the feeling, I will never forget it,” she said.

Reiterating that she is thankful, Edghill said she could not have done it alone, as she singled out her “dear friend, brother and soul mate, the late Keith Andre Sobryan,” who was responsible for her getting involved in the HIV programme and theatrics.
Television and Radio Personality Basil Bradshaw would also be placed in the spotlight on October 6, when he takes the stage to be bestowed with the Medal of Service.
“It’s indeed an honour to be rewarded nationally for my nationalistic efforts over the years, born out of true patriotism. This will, in fact, encourage me to redouble my interests in my country’s affairs. With 37 years of broadcasting experience on radio and television, this should not be too difficult to achieve,” he told this newspaper.

AN HONOUR
Gail Primo, an educator, told Guyana Chronicle that to be recognised by the State and people of this nation is an honour. “I am humbled and grateful. I am overjoyed to be awarded for doing something that I loved and still do,” she said. Primo will also receive the Medal of Service Award.
“In my 37 years in the profession I have always made my students’ development my primary focus, not only academically but also morally and socially. Knowing that I would have played a role in moulding children to become worthwhile citizens gives me a sense of satisfaction that cannot be compared to anything else,” she said while reflecting on her life’s work.

Wendy Hermonstine, Programme Manager at National Communications Network (NCN), is among those who will be bestowed with the Medal of Service Award. She started her career at the Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Food Processing and Allied Group in 1979 in the Public Relations Unit.

Then, on completion of her BSc in Communication Studies from University of Guyana in 1992, she was encouraged by the late Kester Alves to join Guyana Public Communications Agency (GPCA) as a producer attached at GTV. She has never turned back since.
“I kept working beyond the call of duty and this helped me to climb the ladder. Along the way I was able to achieve a post-graduate diploma in International Relations and did media training in Japan, Jamaica and China. I was always passionate about my career because it allows me to travel and serve my country in a number of ways. I have been able to empower and guide a number of individuals who passed through GTV and NCN. Seeing them learn, develop their skills and improve gives me a sense of purpose,” she said.
Though elated, Hermonstine said she is very humble to be a Medal of Service awardee. “I give God praise and thanks for favour and I am grateful,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force offered congratulations to Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) Leslie A. James and Paul A. Williams. James and Williams will be receiving the Disciplined Services Medal (DSM) Award for sustained and dedicated service of a high order in the Guyana Police Force, on the occasion of Guyana’s 52nd Independence Anniversary celebrations. They are among three persons to receive the Disciplined Services Medal (DSM).

In the other categories, three persons – businessman Komal Samaroo, Justice Oslen Small and Professor Alvin Thompson – are in line to receive this year’s top award, the Cacique’s Crown of Honour (CCH), while three other persons will receive the Military Service Medal (MSM).

President David Granger has said that the conferral of national awards is recognised as a mechanism, provided under the Constitution of Guyana to give due national recognition to outstanding citizens, and he has committed to ensuring that these national honours are conferred regularly.