GUYANESE are domiciled all over the world, but their hearts are indisputably buried in Guyana, along with their navel strings. It is a known fact that they spend resources, time and energy fighting for their political party of choice during elections in Guyana.

However, over and above political issues Guyanese diasporans are always united in support for humanitarian causes. There are many NGOs in the Guyanese diaspora that have, in multiple ways, contributed to the vulnerable in Guyana. Among the most prominent are the Jay and Sylvia Foundation, which primarily promotes and facilitates educational initiatives; the Sharma Foundation, founder of which, the great-hearted Satish Sharma, passed to a higher abode but left a legacy of service to humanity that still contributes to the Guyanese society.
The latest contributions include, but is not limited to the following during its annual outreach programme in Guyana; i.e.,  several schools and individuals who were recipients of various donations, among them were:-

(1)The Dharmic Rama Krishna Primary School, located in Barr Street Kitty, received eight ceiling fans that were installed by the foundation; (2) The Cove and John Ashram received a 19Kg whirlpool washing machine, among several other utilitarian items; (3) The Sharma Foundation made a monetary donation to Ms. Syedha Mandodh towards her prevention-of-cruelty-against- animals work; (4) The Bal Niwas Shelter in Port Mourant, Berbice, received a microwave oven and a 12-speed blender, and the list goes on.

Dr. Tara Singh has organised many health outreach programmes to Guyanese communities over the years. Subsequent to the closure of the sugar estates and consequential retrenchment of thousands of employees, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Singh partnered with local volunteers in a sustained food and requisite supplies distribution network.

Dr. Singh co-founded the Holi Sammelan and Festival Committee of New York; he founded the youth organization — Guyana Youth Corps — which has been renamed New York Guyana Medical and Humanitarian Mission. In 1992 he founded the Guyana Watch Inc. and recruited Mr Tony Yassin, and Mr George Subraj into Guyana Watch Inc. Both of them have ever since been doing tremendous humanitarian work in Guyana from that jump start. Dr. Singh led that organisation for six years then passed on leadership to Tony Yassin.

He continues with various humanitarian missions, which intensified from March 2020. Together with the Guyanese fraternity, primarily Ms Bibi Khan, Mr Srad Kublall, Dr Sanjay Ramkissoon, Pt Ram Hardowar and President T Seerattan, Dr. Singh and his local volunteers have been collaborating in the provision of thousands of food hampers throughout the country. The hinterland communities also are beneficiaries of Dr. Singh’s largesse and his next project is scheduled for the following weekend, when he will donate 320 food hampers to an Amerindian community.

Dr. Tara Singh exemplifies the great achievers in and from Guyana, most of whom were very poor and whose parents could not afford the fees then payable for a high school education. He studied privately to gain entry into university and, upon graduating from UG, he secured a Commonwealth Scholarship to do graduate work in the UK, where he gained a PhD in 1978. He returned home and worked as Senior Lecturer at UG in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

He was subsequently awarded a Senior Commonwealth Visiting Scholar in 1984 and shortly after a Fulbright Award. Dr. Tara Singh has made his mark in his adopted homeland, the USA, and worldwide, but his heart resides in his homeland, Guyana, to which his love, loyalty and patriotism has never diminished. Guyanese abroad are Guyanese, notwithstanding political loyalties and affiliations and, collectively, Guyana is the home of their hearts.