PARENTS have high aspirations for their children and as they work to ensure all the necessary resources are available to them for a proper education and upbringing, they are met with challenges along the way.

Most of these are at times minor in nature and can be overcome with very little or no effort; however, it is a completely different matter when they lost their jobs, have mouths to feed and do not know where their next meal will come from.

This was the case of several retrenched sugar workers, among them being Bhisham Premdas, 51, of Number 62 Village, East Berbice, Corentyne. He related to the Guyana Chronicle that after he received his letter of severance, he felt broken and defeated. He was never able to find a stable job and had to get by doing odd jobs to provide for his family.

Despite his struggles, Bhisham was keen to ensure his children succeed academically and ensure his son, Khemraj Premdas, 12, attends school every day.

Khemraj, a former pupil of the New Market Primary School, wrote the recent National Grade Six Assessment Examinations (NGSA) and performed well.

He secured a place at Tagore Memorial Secondary School where he will be joining his elder brother, a fifth former and an aspiring mechanical engineer.

Khemraj told the Guyana Chronicle that he studied hard and his single goal was to pass the examinations.

“When I finish school, I want to one day be able to work and earn enough to take care of my parents and so my father would not have to work anymore,” he said with a warm smile.

The young man, who wants to become an electrician/welder, thanks his parents for their support and for constantly reminding him of the importance of education.

Khemraj’s mother, Banmattie Kubair, 38, said she is very proud of her children and God’s willing they read to the highest level. She related to this publication that she was very worried when her husband was laid off by the Coalition Government but is hopeful that he will get back his job now that the estates in Berbice are re-opening.

COULD NOT SLEEP

“When GuySuCo closed me and meh husband didn’t sleep for one week. One week! We walk this house up and down because of what? Abee would study the children, we didn’t know what abee would a do to mek sure them go school, wuk nah deh nowhere,” the young mother recalled.

Bhisham had to resort to taking any job that came his way even though he was paid a pittance.

He swallowed his pride and work and is now happy that his son has passed his examinations. The proud father is also hoping that his elder son will also do well at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Neil Hernandez had to endure similar circumstances when he was laid off from his job as a tractor operator at the Skeldon Estate. He, however, was a bit more fortunate as he was able to land a stable job but it meant being away from his family.

Hernandez was employed as a tractor operator at the Skeldon Estate for five years when he received a severance letter. He too did odd jobs and works mainly as a security guard to provide for his family and to ensure his son continues his education.

As his son entered Grade Six and the needs of his family increased, he was forced to leave the comfort of his home and go to Region One where he got a job as a driver.

There he would spend several months at intervals while sending finances to his wife to run the house and ensure that their children were comfortable, especially his second son as he was preparing to sit the NGSA examinations.

His son, Ezekiel Daniel Hernandez, 12, of Number 64 Village, also a student of the New Market Primary School, secured a place at St. Roses High School. The Young Hernandez has his eyes set on becoming an engineer.

The young man is very thankful for the support of his parents and pointed out that while his dad was away, his mom played the role of father to him and his siblings.

DISAPPOINTED BUT CONTENTED

He wanted Queen’s College but fell short.

“I felt disappointed I did not get the school I wanted but my parents and big brother are all proud of me for getting St. Roses. I am content,” Ezekiel said.

Meanwhile, the eloquent and confident Devashree Dhanai of Canefield Canje and former pupil at Cumberland and Rose Hall primary schools, whose father was laid off after 28 years working for GuySuCo as a driver/mechanic, also did well at the NGSA.

Due to a financial crisis, her family was forced to change schools to one that is closer to home. She had to re-adjust but thankfully her sister-in-law and mother took turns spending hours at a time to get her up to speed for her NGSA examinations.

She gained a spot at President’s College and has her sights set on becoming a neurosurgeon.

Her dad is hoping that he will be rehired now that the estates in Berbice are re-opening.

The economies of Upper Corentyne and East Canje are deeply embedded in the sugar estates as it provides employment for many persons in those communities.

The closure of the estates by the previous administration has had far-reaching socio-economic effects on the residents and many have not yet returned to a level of normalcy, despite more than two years have passed since the estates were closed.

The current administration, having recognised the impact the estates closure had on these communities, has made provisions in the emergency budget for 2020, allocating some $5B to start works in preparation to re-open the estates.

Works have already commenced at both the Skeldon and Rose Hall estates and more than 100 retrenched workers have been re-employed. Many others are expected to be rehired in the near future as work intensifies in anticipation for the full re-opening.

With a new chief executive officer, board of directors and forward-thinking managers at GuySuCo, residents are eagerly counting down the days to when the clouds of smoke will once again gush from the massive chimneys, bringing back hope to those at Skeldon and Rose Hall.