Dear Editor,
MONDAY 17th, 2022, Guyana has lost a true son of the soil, Dr. Yesu Persaud. Ninety-three years of age, he was hailed as a simple and humble person by no other than His Excellency, The Honourable President of Guyana, Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali. Dr. Yesu Persaud was one of the pillars for the Clinical Educational Centre for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) which opened in October of 2020. He was instrumental in raising over US$1M to help finance this mammoth project and to help realise a dream that is beneficial to the current and future generations of this country with regards to teaching and training medical personnel. The Yesu Persaud Foundation collaborated with other agencies to assist in making Guyana a proud nation to sport a brand-new facility with modern technology to promote this establishment as a medical teaching and learning institution for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. At the opening ceremony, the Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, hailed Dr. Yesu Persaud, an investor, as a man of tremendous integrity and praised him for his selflessness.

Dr. Yesu Persaud, like many more famous Guyanese, hailed from a humble background, starting from the sugar estate and worked his way to become one of the best chartered accountants this country has produced. He started working at Diamond Estate before going to the United Kingdom to complete his studies. Returning home, he worked at Sandbach Parker, which later became Jessels Group of Company, Leonora and Diamond Estates, along with DDL inclusive. He was the Finance Director for that company before branching out in the 1980s to form The Guyana Liquor Corporation as its Chairman. GLC went on to be internationally awarded, winning many prizes for the best rum in the world and helping to put Guyana on the world map in this field for many years. His company was a big foreign exchange earner for this country also and he was also responsible for encouraging many youngsters to join the accounting field.

Earning an honorary doctorate from the University of Guyana, Dr. Yesu Persaud was recognised as a stalwart in the field of banking, shipping, insurance, manufacturing and distilling. All these activities did not limit him and he still found the time to engage in what was close to his heart, philanthropy, i.e., serving the less fortunate. His motto was, “Help those who can’t help themselves,” and, this is exactly what he did by assisting to the many needs of thousands, either directly or indirectly. He played a pivotal part in propelling many small businesses to becoming productive and profitable. He oversaw many who could not afford the finance, gaining scholarships, undertook other projects at the University of Guyana and Warwick while also lecturing in the Caribbean. He was also very much involved in the political arena in Guyana and its restoration for democracy. Dr. Yesu Persaud was a great social worker who served many different societies, including religious and cultural.

The entire executive and board members, doctors, nurses, clerks, labourers and other staff of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation join with all Guyanese to mourn the sad loss of Dr. Yesu Persaud, a man who had dedicated a life time of investment to help Guyana become a better place to live and Guyanese to enjoy a higher standard of living. He will always be remembered for his sterling contribution towards the establishment of the Clinical Education Centre, a Herculean task taken on by a man who will not be forgotten for his charitable contributions and a man with a big and loving heart for his fellow Guyanese. The President, Dr. Irfaan Ali had once referred to him as a man with a hammer and chisel, who put things in perspective and in place. Dr. Yesu Persaud had also mentioned that one of the biggest challenges for the current administration of Guyana is to keep Guyanese at home so that they can build this nation and avoid them leaving this country with so much talent.

Dr. Yesu Persaud was an international iconic figure who was recognised, acknowledged and appreciated throughout the world. The GPHC will forever be thankful to him for his magnificent input towards the upliftment of the standard of services provided by GPHC. The GPHC wishes to convey its heartfelt condolences on the passing of Dr. Yesu Persaud and expresses its deepest sympathies to all the members of the bereaved family. He will always be remembered for his kindness, humility and friendliness and will not be forgotten for his pleasant personality, a man of high moral standing and captivating smile.

Yours respectfully,
Robbie Rambarran,
Chief Executive Officer
GPHC