By Naomi Marshall
Dwayne Annibourne is a second-year student of the University of Guyana whose aspiration is to become one of Guyana’s best certified mechanical engineers while making his family proud.

From a tender age, the 24-year-old, who grew up in La Penitence, Georgetown with his mother and older sister, enjoyed fixing objects. This is what sparked his interest in becoming a mechanical engineer.

Additionally, Annibourne dreamt of becoming an entrepreneur to create and successfully spearhead his own business.
In 2018, the youth that described himself as optimistic, caring, hardworking, ambitious and down to earth began his journey of becoming a certified mechanical engineer at the University of Guyana.

While attending university, he was able to open a barbershop at his Middle Road, La Penitence home where he would cut hair after classes. This not only marked the commencement of Annibourne’s entrepreneurial journey but it also allowed him to assist in the payment of his school tuition fees.
He also collaborated with a friend to start an online shipment business, ‘Prime Global Shippings’.

On February 22, 2020, however, Annibourne was greeted with circumstances that would halt everything he had going on in his life and potentially stop him from accomplishing his goal of becoming a mechanical engineer.

On the said date, Annibourne was riding his motorcycle on the East Bank of Demerara when he got into a horrific hit and run accident.
The father of one told the Pepperpot Magazine that he only remembers waking up in the hospital where a doctor explained to him that he was involved in an accident.

Due to the misfortune, Annibourne’s right lung was punctured, his right shoulder was dislocated and his right hand was motionless.
When a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was carried out on the young man, it revealed that his right hand was motionless due to damaged nerves.
The future mechanical engineer was told that if the damaged nerves did not regenerate in three to five months on their own then the only way his hand could recover was through a ‘Brachial Plexus’ surgery in Cuba.

“So I waited and did therapy but it has been five months now and there is no sign of the nerves regenerating on its own so I have to do surgery if I would have any chance of using my arms again,” Annibourne expressed.

The cost of surgery is US$15,000 and since the accident, Annibourne has been unable to work in his barbershop. The young man’s co-owned online shipment business has also been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making it difficult for Annibourne to acquire the US$15,000 on his own, as such, he is reaching out to the public for financial assistance.

Annibourne stated that his future depends on the surgery and hopes that everything works out. “My arm, the pandemic, my degree and my success – so I could provide for my son and family.”

Apart from fixing objects and barbering, Annibourne enjoys football, reading self-development books, learning new things and hanging out with friends.
Persons willing to make donations can do so by making deposits into Republic Bank account number 962352807071 or can contact Dwayne Annibourne on 6194182.