Comments on: Reflections: “The Guyana National Service: Burnham’s Vision -35 years after”

By: unknown

unknown — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:48:18 +0000

GUYANA FU LIFE

By: presha

presha — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:22:39 +0000

i think these guyanese people need to come together and make plans to help develop our country (Guyana)

By: carl brathwaite

carl brathwaite — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:50:21 +0000

Cab55

Reading about the GNS, written by the Soldiers´soldier, was a tremendous trip down memory lane. I have never met Joe Singh, but while a student at UG in the 70s I heard a lot about him ,all good. This treatise is worthy of analysis by all Guyanese, particularly because of the credentials of its author. I was a UG pioneer, I am a Central High School graduate ,who agonised over the incident involving the brilliant daughter of my former head master.However, I must admit that this account is timely and worth considering. Good Luck Commandante, and Success.

By: Errol Arthur

Errol Arthur — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:42:01 +0000

Look, I was born in Guyana and i’m a Guyanese to the bone. GNS is one of the best programmes Guyana has ever had to date. It involved INCLUSION of all Guyanese, not EXCLUSION. I spent an entire year in the GNS due to the University requirement and i do not have anything bad to say about it, because i met people of all colour, creed and religious background who worked together for the common good of the country.It’s time that all Guyanese see themselves as GUYANESE and not INDO or AFRO Guyanese. With this kind of outlook, we can all work for progression of the country and not regression, as the saying goes, UNITY is Strength. We need to drop all the RACIAL BULL and act as one. Get the technology to exploit the natural resources and make the country self sufficient. There is no way we should let our country come to this state. All Guyanese currently living in Guyana need to be civilised (by that I mean, drop the hatred and RACISM that currently exist). The older folks with the hatred need not to poison the minds of the younger GENERATION. Come on people GROW UP. Mr Sing is absolutely correct we need VISIONARIES who have a plan for INCLUSION and to take the Country to higher Heights.

I ido hope that what i say here today resonates with every one with some degree of reasonable understanding and that they will pass this simple message along . United we stand, divided we fall.

By: LoveGT4Real

LoveGT4Real — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 08:28:51 +0000

As always, I continue to have tremendous respect for Major General Joe Singh, he is a true son of the soil.

That Guyana, with all its vast natural resources, remains at the botton of the “Regional Economic Ladder” is in itself an inditement against us.

The Bible teaches that “without a vision the people perish”, so though not asking the PPP to embrace the PNC’s successes (whether many or few) the least they could do is reveal to us what their vision is.

After all these years in Office they still fail to show sensible leadership with regards to nation building, national defense and so on.

Nature teaches that there is a season for planting, a growing period, followed by a time for harvesting. I dare say that many of the initiatives of the Burnham that were beginning to bear fruit died with him as Mr. Hoyte and successive PPP leaders did their best to distance themselves from anything “Burnham”. Like the General alluded, you don’t throw away the baby with the bath water.

Some of these bloggers are too blinded my narcissism to understand what the General was saying in his address, and this is the very reason why we are still “marking time” as a nation.
Such people cannot see the “good” in anything or anyone they choose to oppose, but blindly support whatever their “fiends” / “leaders” do…..how sad indeed!

By: Arnold

Arnold — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:04:31 +0000

It was Paradise on Earth!! and all those writing and singing Melodious Overtures of the G.N.S are far from the Land of their Birth…

By: bbuckman

bbuckman — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:33:16 +0000

A leader must have a plan and a vision of where he wants to take his organization, and this was not lacking for gen Singh.
He is a formidable leader, and a professional and a technocrat’s one soldier to another, I can recognize this.
Ns did not live up to its charter popular because of the undemocratic, practices of the pnc. The pnc goal was to entrench itself in Guyana as a one party state. the socialism practice by Burnham, was to create, jobs for the boys it resemble the model practice in ,korea,cuba,ussr.it was not organized along the lines of western Europe multiparty democracy.
Many western countries have socialism, and national service.
National service in Guyana is needed. The time is ripe, given the social conditions; maybe it should be given a different name that will instill patriotism.
As the world shift from bipolar to multipolar nationalism, will be the new religion.To combat crime, protect it sovergntity, it is now ripe for ns.

By: Charriot

Charriot — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:57:45 +0000

Evileyes and GTBEAT, you guys are too foreign minded to see or know of LFSB’s vision.
It’s people like you, that made the vision died. You now live in North America with your Bling Bling!!. But Guyana is now defunct and the people left there are suffering thanks to the Jaganites.

NOw what do the people have NOTHING!!!!!

By: SHEIK DEEN

SHEIK DEEN — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:09:52 +0000

IT IS A SAD SITUATION FOR GUYANA DEVELOPMENT. STOP BAD MOUTHING OUR LEADERS AND START SUPPORTING POSITIVE CHANGES FOR BETTER. OF COURSE LEADERS MAKE MISTAKES, PLEASE HELP CORRECT THEM POSITIVELY.

By: TRE

TRE — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:39:00 +0000

There are two types of people in this world leaders and followers and you my friend are a follower, to be a leader you need to have vision, and many including you did not understand the vision of Burnham. That is why you can afford to make such loose statements, just compared the state in which Guyana is in now to the projected state it would have been in TODAY had Burnham’s policies been persued and then you would be able to speak credibly, that is if you are objective and possess any analytical and or deductive ability at all. other wise just be quite and research the terms you use before you throw them around loosly next time

By: SurMot

SurMot — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:04 +0000

Oh come on Joe!!

Not everyone ran from the PNC-dictatorship in Guyana, I personally have served my native country with such regime and then after left in pursuit of my birth-rights(Dutch-status) and a higher Dutch technical education in civil-engineering.

By: evileyes

evileyes — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:50:08 +0000

national service did wonders for all these good people but they will never tell you why they run for their lives from guyana during burnham reigh of terror.it was a burnham failure and that is the bottom line.it wa more than a nightmare for many.

By: gtbeat

gtbeat — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 02:14:40 +0000

ThIs “dream” was a nightmare for some.

By: sheik

sheik — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:22:18 +0000

Thanks to Maj Gen (rtd) J Singh. Burnham’s dream not only benefited Guyana where there is a cadre of professionals who are products of GNS, but they are all over the world giving the benefits of his dream.

Here in the US many of them carry the mantle of senior leadership positions in areas of health,education,Law Enforcement and Transpotation.I am still to meet any former staff trainee or pioneer who is down.They are all holding their own and making tangible contibutions to whch ever area they are serving.
It is because of Burnham;s vision Keith Booker and Angela Johnson of the Ministries of Culture and Sports and Homeaffairs respectively are where they are today.
In new york there is a vibrant Ex Gns Organisation.The flag and colors are still
flying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Because of a dream.

By: Guy Marco

Guy Marco — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:55:50 +0000

I was born under LFSB administration and when I completed school I needed some thing adventurous to occupied my youthness (16 yrs). As such I thought GNS most suitable.
Its motto also sent a message to my mind – “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, he can achieve”.
I remember asking myself what I have put myself into whilst travelling through the jungle of North West from Matthews Ridge to Papaya. I am used to the openness of the beautiful vast Rupununi with it two mountain ranges – the Pakaraimas and the Kanukus – in the back ground.
After fun paramilitary training there I was able to ‘breathe’ better at Kimbia where we did our skills training in various fields. I took did Auto Mechanic and Auto Electric which gave me knowledge of how an auto mobile operates. There was not an opportunity opened for me then to persue in those facinating fields. Hence I was place at GNS Printing & Publishing Center where I my natural talent in art was put to test. From there on I was given the opportunity to study art at the Burrowes School of Art. An Art School that was mentioned to me whilst working for Malaria Eradication Programme in the Rupununi ( where I did sketches of the villages that I visited) prior to joining the Pioneer Corps.
I did Graphics Designing because I thought it would be most needed at GNSP&PC. However upon my return, 4 years ilater, it wasn’t GNSP&PC that impressed me in term of production when I entered its door. There were very very few printing jobs coming in.
Looking back at things – it was the down fall of the persons who were trusted to run it productively. They had no idea of management – but just a litle – ‘Manager’/ Captain/Lieutenant etc.
Good luck for me I was most time occupied – training trainees including Tanzania National Service member ( Lt. Heri) and doing special tasks for the Director General – Major General (retd) Joseph G. Singh who still encourages me in my art/music long after the late LFSB and his GNS expired.
Some of those tasks took me to Essequibo – New Opportunity Corp – to do layout of biogas ‘plant’ and other sign paintings.
After serving out my time there for their support during my training at the art school – I moved on to UG to continue my studies.
It was that beginning (GNS) took me to the Caribbean to fulfill my dream of serving my Caribbean community as teacher and as a descendant of my counterparts – Arawaks and Caribs -; and am still aiming to achieve what I believe ( further my education).
It’s amazing to note that the current goverment is now calling for “Grow more food” which GNS was fully doing at the time it took over. One of the best suited places for “Grow more Food” is Kimbia.
It is interesting that curent Democratic Persidential nominee is promising college/university students that they can be out of their studies with less over head exepences if the did community service/s = national service.
Great reflection Major General and thank you.

By: Surujlall motilall

Surujlall motilall — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:06:22 +0000

Hi Joe ;

Hi Joe!

Please give me also some breathing spaces to say that I was a very proud staff-member of the faithful G. N. S. , which was in my attempt of serving my native country and country of birth “My Dear Guyana” .
I was designated to a post as general store keeper at Kimbia, after I have terminated my job at Bookers Hardware Stores in Water Street-Georgetown.
I have proudly served the GNS as an officer between 1974 until 1976 at Kimbia, after which I was sponsored by the Ministry of Economical Development and Co-ops, to under go studies at the Kuru-Kuru Co-operative College on the Linden-Soesdijk highway, in the field of “Management of Agricultural Co-operatives (Crops).
I left Guyana in 1977 with many local credentials, in pursuit of my Dutch (Netherlands) status and a higher Dutch technical education in the field of Civil-Engineering, which was in the event for me to return and to continue serve my beloved Guyana.
Because of such interests and trainings I have had at GNS-Kimbia and at Kuru-Kuru, I am so motivated now to return to my native Guyana and to serve in the capacity as Chairman for the Caribbean Outlook Foundation, Inc. and as a Dutch oriented and trained Civil-Engineer.
The Caribbean Outlook Foundation, Inc., is a N. G. O. entity, founded by me, based in the Netherlands and has affiliates in Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, with intention to pervade other Caribbean countries.
Presently, I am in negotiation with Go-Invest to pitch respective ventures in Guyana, after which, upon satisfactory modality, I will be permanently re-migrating to my land of origin and to serve in such a capacity as a civil engineer, executing my skills and knowledge in “hydro-concrete, water and civil engineering”.
I seize now this opportunity, to commend, congratulate and to thank Mr. Desmond Roberts and the Honourable Mr. Frank August Campbelle (Guyana’s first Ambassador to Cuba and former Minister of Information) for considering and granting me such opportunity for serving in the G. N. S. and for me to become a faithful and fruitful son of my original Guyana.

Knowingly, we strive here for a Co-operative Education,
Unhesitatingly, we are upholding such a position.
Restraining all our energy in need for our country,
Undergoing vigorously our studies in one unity.

Knowledge today, is what our country needs,
Unity also, is a pillar for fruitful seeds.
Rendering assistance to our beautiful Guyana
Utilising our innate skills for a better “Tamara”

By: David Alexander

David Alexander — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:03:25 +0000

Bravo Mr. Singh, I was a member of the 6th. intake of the Guyana Yuoth Corps who left the comfort of my parents home knowing nothing of the skills I would later possess after two years of training. I am presently involved in electrical engineering with the United Nations in Liberia.

I can complete a book on the ups and downs during my training but would like to say overall that without discipline you cannot make it.

Many thanks to Mr. Louis Amsterdam,Mr. Jagdeo who was responsible for guidance, Mr. Vandyke for sports, Mrs. Peters, Mrs Yaw and all the other staff members that were responsible for carving out boys and girls to the men and women of today.

thanks a million and best regards