23 women among those conferred with National awards
─ President Granger committed to the annual conferral of the awards
By Shaquille Bourne
DPI, Guyana, Saturday, May 25, 2019
Last evening, Friday, May 24, His Excellency President David Granger bestowed national awards under the Orders of Guyana to seventy-seven outstanding persons, for their contribution to Guyana’s development.
Shameza Baksh headed the list of those conferred with the Medal of Service and was the first person awarded on Friday evening at the National Cultural Centre. Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Shameza said, “it’s always an honor when people recognise the things that you’re doing and you feel good about it. So, it’s an honour for me to receive this award today”. Shameza was recognised for her works as educator. She has taught both children and adults in areas of Islamic studies. The awardee’s work has benefited people from Bartica and Berbice.
Meanwhile, one of the youngest awardees, Leon Johnson, copped the Golden Arrow of Achievement for his remarkable performance as a cricketer. Leon’s career in cricket began in 2004. At 16 years of age, the cricketer made his debut representing Guyana and this year marks 15 years of his involvement in the sport.
“It’s great to be recognised at such a young age … I hope it is an inspiration not only for young sportsmen, but young professionals in general,” the cricketer said.
Also conferred with the Golden Arrow of Achievement was Toshao Nicholas Fredericks of Shulinab, Region 9. The Toshao was recognised for his works in community development, specifically in the field of natural resources management, land-use planning and advancement of Indigenous peoples’ advocacy. In an invited comment, Toshao Fredericks told the DPI, “I look forward to using this opportunity to continue to advance and to continue my work in a more honoured manner.”
Medal of Service awardee, Shameza Baksh
Meanwhile, O’Donna Allsopp was posthumously presented with the insignia of the Golden Arrow of Achievement. O’Donna was a trailblazer at the Government Technical Institute (GTI); the first female lecturer at GTI in architectural drawing. The now deceased awardee was also one of the founders of the Guyana Women Artists’ Association. Receiving the award on her behalf was her daughter Susan Allsopp who said, “I feel very proud. She never sought anything, any kind of recognition, but I think it was well deserved. I feel proud to know that she was recognised in this way.”
During closing remarks, President Granger committed to bestowing National Awards to those deserving of them, noting, “National awards have been restored to their proper place of prominence in our nation’s order of business. They have been conferred annually since 2015, and they will continue to be in years to come”.
Also present at the Investiture 2019 ceremony was Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards who issued a charge to the awardees. “As you receive the symbols, the insignias of investiture, may you rededicate your energies towards the health, happiness and prosperity of Guyana”, said the acting Chancellor.
Of the 77 distinguished persons that represent a diverse field of people that are dedicated to service, 23 were women and 54 were men.
List of 2019 National awardees:
Cacique’s Crown of Honour
High Commissioner Frederick Hamley Case
Charles John Ethelwood Fung-A-Fatt, S.C
Ambassador David Thomas Allan Hales
Ambassador Sheik Riyad David Insanally
Ambassador Abdool Halim Majeed
Monsignor Terrence Montrose
Golden Arrow of Achievement
Vincent Luther Alexander
O’Donna Frances Allsopp
Lorene Evadney Pamela Baird
Ruth Benjamin-Huntley
Calvin Benn
Leslie Thomas Black
William Andrew Boyle
Negla Helena Brandis
Paul Andrew Carto
Rudolph Othneil Cummings
Phillip Nessie Bryan Da Silva
Patrick Reginald Anthony Farnum
Egbert Harold Field
Nicholas Fredericks
Malcolm Jacob Jawaharlal Harripaul
Vincent Patrick Henry
Dickson Augustus Hooper
Leon Rayon Johnson
Kalam Azad Juman-Yassin
Patrice Desireé Ann La Fleur
Carl Chetwyn Lashley
Derrick Fitzpatrick Lawrence
Lawrence Hilary London
Julia Anne Mansell
Suresh Narine
Christopher Anthony Nascimento
Lurlene Anita Nestor
Maxine Patricia Parris-Aaron
Rajendra Persaud
Eric McLauren Phillips
Sandra Kumarie Shivdat
Professor Gomathinayagam Subramanian
Morris Wilson
Geneveive Whyte-Nedd
Garfield Ian Colin Wiltshire
William Henry Woolford
Shameza Baksh
Tarramattie Persaud Barker
Roxanne Marilyn Barratt
Rosemary Nicola Benjamin-Noble
Donna Annastatia Bowman
John Randolph Massiah Critchlow
Jean Marionetta Dorsett
Hilbert Gardiner Foster
Gloria Dawn Garraway
Lawrence Llewlyn Griffith
Soyinka Ameygo Grogan
Claudette Anne Patricia Heyliger-Thomas
Suresh Jagmohan
Parmeshwar Jagmohan
Ian Jardine
Bibi Fazeela Khan
Nizam Kassim
Gordon Hubert Kingston
Kumar Lalbachan
Peter George Lewis
Nazrudeen Mohamed
Terrence Anthony Poole
Leslie Chrispen Ramalho
Harripersaud Ramsewack
Petal Elizabeth Ridley
Gail Patricia Robinson
Ramkarran Roopchan
James Rotry Sampson
Komal Singh
Zohora Singh
Fitzroy Egerton Younge
Military Service Medal
Lieutenant Colonel Courtney Arthur Byrne
Disciplined Services Medal
Deputy Commissioner Lyndon Lancelot Alves
Assistant Commissioner Paul Handel Anthony Langevine
Divisional Officer Compton Anthony Sparman
Images: Marceano Narine