MILTON Augustues Smith can still remember his days of juggling two jobs while attending the University of Guyana. He had clearly in mind the goal he was working towards and would let nothing – not even sleep – deprive him of the opportunities that were before him; those that he knew were instrumental in helping him to realise his dreams.
In order to do his Associate Degree in Social Work, he’d go in for the night shift at the Georgetown Public Hospital, finish at 07:00hrs the following morning, and leave for work at the Ministry of Human Services – and get there on time for 08:00hrs.
He’d fold his clothes carefully and pack them in his bag so that when he got to his hospital job, he would just have to hang them out on an IV stand or whatever was available, so that by the next morning, they’d be perfect for his job at the ministry.

Having served his eight hours there, Milton would then make his way to UG, go home briefly afterwards to freshen up and then get right back to the hospital. And that’s the way it went for quite some time until he was able to complete his studies. These are the kinds of sacrifices that led to Milton owning his own home and paying for his university degree at just 35 years old.
Now employed at the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) as a senior Probation and Social Services officer, Milton has responsibility for all issues of child abuse in Regions One and Eight.
Having achieved the Associates Degree, Milton did the Bachelor’s Degree and then decided that it was time for him to rest; he felt that he’s studied enough and that it was now time for it to be all over. But wouldn’t you know? He saw that the Masters of Social Work programme was being offered by UG and that there was a scholarship available.
“I said to myself that with my GPA, I qualified for the scholarship, so I decided to apply and was accepted,” Milton reflected in an interview with Pepperpot Magazine recently. He was thus able to complete the Master’s programme in Social Work successfully, with a special focus on juvenile justice, and is preparing for his Zoom graduation on February 11.
Humble Beginnings
Milton was not born with a gold spoon in his mouth, as the saying goes. Coming from a nuclear family, he had 10 siblings and his parents Jean and Milton Snr, were vendors. Life in Agricola, East Bank Demerara, was certainly not easy for the Smith family, especially when Mrs Smith died when Milton was still in secondary school.
His dear grandmother Eileen (now deceased) saw to it that the family was cared for, using her meagre pension to buy food for the household. “For me to write CXC, I had to be supported by my grandmother. It was a struggle, but I learnt contentment and other qualities from the experience,” Milton would later say.

“Sometimes the only way to achieve certain things is to create opportunities for ourselves; they are not given to us. Things will not just come knocking at your door. Sometimes you have to do things that you don’t like before you get what you really want. You can’t just sit down and wait. It often takes us looking and venturing into different directions but still remembering our main goal,” Milton realised.
And this is exactly what he did. He saw the value of seizing every opportunity that came his way and took the initiative to go after some. One thing was clear in his mind: “Learn to take what is there until you get what you want.”
Milton did many jobs before he really figured out what he would choose to settle with. He can still remember his job in the fishing and painting industries and how he was tasked with loading paint cans, painting labels, and cleaning up spilt paint. He also recalled his time as a stores clerk with GPL where his job was to help organise the bond.
Throughout it all, though, he would read the newspapers. He knew he didn’t do well in school and had nothing to show for CXC, but he also knew what he was capable of achieving once he was given the opportunity. So one day, he noticed in the newspapers a vacancy for patient care at Georgetown Hospital.

With his one CXC subject in hand (a Grade Three in Social Studies), he decided that he’ll still apply for it, owing to the fact that it was a job that would enable him to be of service to others. He got into the programme, served well for 16 months and actually stood out on account of his engaging, happy personality. “I completed it as one of the more resourceful students and got an award. I was able to gain employment at GPHC and that is where I was exposed to the nursing profession. I continued there for 10 years during which time I applied to be a UN volunteer along with other programmes,” he shared.
Giving Back
Owing to his own experiences in life, Milton has always had an interest in social work. “It is an innate desire to see people develop that led me to gravitate towards this profession,” he said.
So when he was appointed the first president of the Young Leaders of Agricola organisation, he was able to help with work that had a transformative effect on the community, especially youths. “We did some amazing things.
Agricola was the place where I grew up and throughout my university life, I have always taken projects back to my community. I felt I owed my community that; to return and give of my services to others to motivate them to accomplish great things.”
It was while doing nursing and a full-time programme with ACDA that Milton started UG. “I seized all opportunities to develop myself. What did not happen to me in my first years of life eventually happened to me later.”
Every Child Guyana (now Child Link) was one social work agency that Milton was able to benefit from as a child. So when he got an opportunity to work with the organisation, he felt it a privilege. “It did something for me as a teen that trickled into my adulthood. It spurred my desire to become a professional social worker,” he shared. And it was through a project between Child Link and the CPA that he began working with the ministry.
Milton is grateful for his supportive wife Malia and two daughters, Mea and Makaylah.