…National awardeees hail recognition for service to country

By Navendra Seoraj
PERSONS are conferred with National Awards because of their contribution(s) to society among other things, and this year’s National Awardees believe that serving with “integrity and honesty” will always pay off.

As part of the celebrations for Guyana’s 50th Republic Anniversary, some 66 persons were named as recipients of national awards.

President David Granger had said that the conferring of national awards is recognised as a mechanism, provided under the Constitution of Guyana, to give due national recognition to outstanding citizens.

And this year, among the awardees was former Assistant Police Commissioner, Paul Slowe, who was named as one of the recipients of the Cacique Crown of Honour.
Slowe, who joined the Guyana Police Force in 1974, said he felt honoured for being given such a prestigious award.

“I am overjoyed and humbled by this award…I have had several memorable moments during my years in the force and I have always given my best. It was a joy serving in the force and now I am being recognised,” said the former assistant commissioner in an invited comment, on Monday.

In light of his award, the former assistant commissioner believes that hard and honest work pays off. He encouraged young officers and individuals to always serve with honesty and integrity because they will be recognised in the end.

One person who also believes that serving with integrity and honesty will bear fruit is former President of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, Pastor Richard James, who was named as a recipient of the Golden Arrow of Achievement.
“I see myself as someone who has served with integrity and honesty… I have always served for God’s glory and maintained honesty and integrity,” said Pastor James, noting that prior to becoming a minister in the religious circle, he served in the public sector at the then Inland Revenue and at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Speaking about his experience at Inland Revenue and how he maintained his integrity, Pastor James said: “At Inland Revenue, bribe was offered to me and I refused…back then persons had to get tax exits and ensure that eight years of their outstanding balances would have been taken care of before they could travel. So persons with outstanding balances would often offer tax officers money, but I was not a person who accepted money and being honest paid off… I have always lived a life of honesty and I continue to do so because it is always right to practice what you preach.”

Owing to the results of his honesty, Pastor James urged persons to work honestly and faithfully, noting that once persons work ‘well’ they will always make progress.
Despite being well aware of his contributions to society and his accomplishments, he said he was honoured to be named as a recipient of such an award. Pastor James said he appreciated the fact that the conferral of awards is not done based on resume virtues alone, but also considers character virtues.

Another person, who is honoured by being named as a recipient of a national award is Veteran Soldier, Beverly Ann Somerset.

“I am elated, I feel proud just as when I conquered that mountain. This award will further motivate me to continue to give of my best to fellow army veterans, who, due to circumstances beyond their control, depend upon me to look after their welfare. My family is also proud of my achievement,” were the sentiments of Somerset.

Listed among the 2020 National Awardees, Somerset is one among 23 persons who have been bestowed with the Medal of Service (MS).

She is a retired Staff Sergeant of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who currently functions as the Veterans Welfare Officer – a job that is dear to her heart because some of her charges are physically challenged.

When Somerset nicknamed `Thriller’ retired from the GDF, she left a distinguished record behind, of not only being among the early set of females to venture into a traditional male arena, but has been a renowned training officer. In addition to being the longest female training officer, Somerset is known to have trained several of the females who subsequently obtained high status in the army.

One of her memorable feats is being the first woman soldier to conquer Mount Ayanganna in 1992.The mountain is located 85 kilometres east of Mount Roraima with a height of 2,041 metres.

The lone female among 11 men, the expedition to climb Mount Ayanganna was part of the army’s activities to commemorate Guyana’s Republic Anniversary that year. Such is the deftness of Somerset who wanted to prove to her male counterparts that she was no walkover as a female soldier.

Another female, who is being awarded for her contributions to society, is African Rights Activist, Catherina Penda Guyan. She was named among the 20 persons who were conferred with the Golden Arrow of Achievement.

Guyan said she has championed the rights of Afro-Guyanese for many years, noting that she is a member of the steering committee of the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) and the President of the Ghana Day Organisation.
She is also a commissioner of the local reparations committee, which had been seeking to make a strong case for reparative justice, since the enslavement of Africans was a grave crime against humanity.

The Guyana Reparations Committee, in collaboration with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), has been working ‘tirelessly’ to correct the historical wrongs by presenting a case based on law. And, Guyan has been a key contributor to the work of this committee.
In addition to her work and contributions to the Afro-Guyanese community, Guyan has served as the Chairperson of the Mourning Families and Friends in White Committee which was formed with the intention of seeking justice for “the State-sponsored Right Wing Death Squad murders” that occurred under the People’s Progression Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration led by Bharrat Jagdeo.

“Given my work and contributions, I am so elated and I am really happy that I have been named for such an award…I am very grateful,” said Guyan, who is also a longstanding member of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R).