Dear Editor,

ACROSS the U.S., lives have been impacted (health, employment, nutrition, rental, mortgage, and otherwise) by the coronavirus pandemic. Richmond Hill, Flatbush, Queens Village, Jamaica, and other areas where Guyanese communities are established, seem to have been hit very hard. Many, many Guyanese have lost their jobs and a lot of them who owned small businesses were forced to close. The increase in need for Guyanese New Yorkers, and perhaps those in Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, Washington, etc., shows the damage that’s been done by the pandemic in Guyanese-American communities.

Guyanese have been severely affected by the pandemic in a variety of ways. A drive through Guyanese neighbourhoods reveal too many shuttered shops. Many Guyanese are struggling through job losses and wage cuts. Also, COVID infection rates are higher in Guyanese and other migrant neighbourhoods.  Guyanese communities in Queens, Brooklyn, and elsewhere have been in desperate need of food and other forms of assistance. These neighbourhoods have seen many struggles, including a heightened need for food, masks, five-pack face shields, hand sanitisers, and personal protective equipment, as COVID-19 cases spiked. Their compatriots have not disappointed them.

Generous Guyanese-Americans and Guyanese food-pantry volunteers have responded to their needs in Queens in particular.  Some assist with rental money and/ or rent forgiveness, and several food pantries, staffed by Guyanese, have been doling out food to alleviate hunger. Mandirs, churches, and masjids have also become centres for food distribution, COVID-testing, and vaccination. Food pantries and food distribution sites helped Guyanese and non-Guyanese in Greater Richmond Hill to access food and protective equipment at critical times. Every week, sometimes twice a week, they give out hampers and/ or equipment to protect against COVID. They not only help Guyanese, but members of other ethnic groups as well. And mandirs not only have been helping Hindus, but also followers of other faiths.

The Guyanese neighbourhoods leadership has responded positively to help their compatriots. Some mandirs handed out prepared meals and food boxes. Many individuals and organisations have been behind the effort to help the community. They all deserve public credit. Among those who really stood out in organising assistance for the Richmond Hill area are Vishnu Mahadeo of Richmond Hill Development Incorp, Balram Rambrich of Arya Samaj USA and Pt. Lakhram Ramdat Maharaj of Tulsi Mandir. Rambrich procured equipment that is shared with other organisations and distributed to the public.

Mahadeo and Pandit Lakeram Maharaj have been able to procure food and equipment and without fail have shared same with the public. Mahadeo has been distributing food, masks, gloves, hand sanitisers and face shields, and at times hot meals several times every week, while Pt. Lakeram doles out his handouts on Saturday mornings. In addition to material assistance, Mahadeo has been able to lobby for and procure a mobile testing van that is posted almost permanently in Richmond Hill.  He has been fetching seniors and bringing them for testing. He also has arranged vaccine appointments for seniors and arranging transport for those in need in order that they be vaccinated. I would like to recommend Vishnu Mahadeo for national honours by the Guyana Government for his extraordinary efforts to help Guyanese New Yorkers. No one has done more than him to help Guyanese- Americans to combat the COVID or to recover from infection.

Access to healthy nutrition and protective equipment is important to overall physical and mental health and well-being. And the public, Guyanese and non-Guyanese, are most grateful for the assistance provided by volunteers to meet the challenges.

Increasing numbers of Guyanese are being tested and vaccinated. Testing is free and multiple tests are allowed without any limit. Lives are being saved through regular testing and vaccination. Anyone and everyone who wants a vaccine gets it. No one is being turned away. An appointment is hardly needed now to get the vaccine. Walk-ins are allowed. There are few who have been resisting the vaccine. And the vaccine has been working.

Guyanese-Americans are urged to take the vaccine and to get regular testing, and take all necessary precautions to protect themselves and others.

Yours truly,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram