– Community leader Nadira Somwaru committed to helping the less fortunate

By Frederick Halley
REAL estate business professional, Nadira Somwaru, is the new president of the Guyanese Canadians for Unity (GCU). She was elected at the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), held last Sunday at the Community Room of the Police Number 31 Division, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The GCU aims to bring together Guyanese Canadians and friends of Guyana to help foster social engagement and heritage preservation in the Guyanese Canadian community, as well as to support the progressive development of Guyana.
The organisation was founded in 2022 by Janet Naidu, an educator and community leader who was born in Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara, and came to Canada in the 1970s. Naidu served as its first president for the past four years. Somwaru, herself one of the founding members who served as vice-president for the first two years, helped to launch the organisation at an inaugural luncheon in Toronto.
Somwaru, who is also a community leader, was born in the Mahaicony River, East Coast Demerara, and came to Canada in the mid-1980s. She managed to work full-time while remaining committed to furthering her education and professional development.
For over two decades, Nadira built an impressive career as a business development manager, working across North America, Europe and Asia. Her international experience strengthened her expertise in strategic growth, relationship-building and leadership.

Today, Nadira is the proud owner of a successful real estate business, where she continues to demonstrate her entrepreneurial spirit, dedication and commitment to excellence. Alongside her professional achievements, Nadira raised three daughters, balancing career and motherhood with determination and grace.
She is deeply passionate about diversity, community engagement and volunteerism. Nadira actively supports various organisations and is especially committed to helping less fortunate people, believing strongly in giving back and uplifting others.
When Janet Naidu, the founder of GCU, approached her to create the organisation, she immediately saw the need for fostering social engagement among Guyanese Canadians in Canada.
The GCU is a non-political organisation with its aims and objectives under a broad umbrella of helping to preserve and foster the principles of human rights, equality and unity in the community. With Naidu’s background in equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and Somwaru’s professional background and dedication to community service and volunteerism, they were both in sync with the formation of the GCU organisation, knowing that it had the potential to develop many different projects under its umbrella of community engagement and support. They also share the view that it was important to work towards these objectives as long-standing community values.
The GCU has since created some of its guiding principles, such as a Statement of Human Rights, a Statement of Equality and a Statement on Preserving Cultural Heritage, all aligned with the organisation’s aims and objectives. While many of these principles are ideal and may be challenging, the GCU recognises they are ongoing values to advocate for in the community. The organisation promotes these standing principles in its work. It also aims to foster social engagement and heritage preservation within the Guyanese Canadian community, particularly as Guyanese immigrants and the next generation of Guyanese heritage continue to find value in their cultural roots.
In 2023, GCU initiated a project to support Guyana’s progress in the social services sector. It provided voluntary services to two children’s homes in Guyana and facilitated a six-week group counselling workshop delivered by a volunteer certified therapist from Canada, conducted over a virtual platform.
Over the past four years, the GCU has held several meaningful webinars covering various subjects, including specialised topics on mental health, all aimed at bringing valuable information to the community. The organisation is still in its infancy and has opportunities to grow.
At the launch of the organisation in 2022, Naidu stated:
“…even though we have left the shores of our birth country, as Guyanese Canadians, we continue to come together as a community. We not only gather to enjoy everything Guyanese, but we also have that giving-back spirit deeply rooted in us. We formed this organisation to continue to foster similar social engagement in our community. We continue to be patriotic Guyanese living in Canada as Canadians. We are proud of the diversity of our heritage.”
As Nadira Somwaru takes on the leadership role of the GCU, with Naidu also serving on the board as the second vice-president to provide support, Nadira expressed appreciation for the confidence the members showed in unanimously electing her to lead the organisation forward. In her acceptance speech, she stated:
“I want to thank the board, our members, and especially Janet Naidu, who laid the foundation of this organisation. Your commitment has created a space where Guyanese Canadians can feel seen, supported and connected. I am stepping into this role because of the work you have already done.
“As President, I promise to lead with compassion, openness and purpose. I will listen. I will collaborate. And I will work to ensure GCU remains a place of inclusion, support and progress. My vision is for GCU to be a bridge—connecting and strengthening community bonds, while also creating opportunities for growth and service here in Canada and especially for the work we have already done in Guyana.
“We have so much to be proud of as Guyanese Canadians. Our strength is in our people, our culture and our willingness to help one another. Together, we can continue to build a community rooted in unity, guided by empathy and driven by hope.
“Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for believing in GCU. I am excited for the journey ahead and honoured to walk it with all of you. May we continue to stand together, uplift one another and move forward united.”
Members of the organisation, including those who served on the first board, have expressed congratulations to Somwaru for being elected president. The current board comprises Nadira Somwaru, President; Fawzi Wahab, First Vice-President; Janet Naidu, Second Vice-President; Zarena Parmeshwar, Secretary; Raymond Mahadeo, Treasurer; Rick Balram, Membership Secretary; and Patrick David, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer.
The organisation also recognises members who served on previous boards, including Terrance Charles, Frederick Halley, Suresh Dookhie, Gaitree Roshan, Roslyn Bacchus, Jito Naraine and Michael Bacchus. Together, they have contributed to the development of the organisation, remaining committed to the work required and assisting with the hosting of social events, participating in virtual webinars and contributing ideas for continuous engagement.