Dear Editor,

For almost two decades, the Bedford Methodist School building located at Robb and Bourda Streets, Georgetown, has ceased to be used by the Ministry of Education as a teaching/learning facility.

Despite several efforts over the years by the Methodist authority requesting the return of this property, the Ministry of Education has failed to accede to these requests.

The very first request was made when Dr Dale Bisnauth was Minister of Education. He might have appeared to be in favour of restoring the building to the church, because Golden Grove and Cumberland Methodist schools were divested and returned to the Methodist Church during his tenure. Bedford Methodist School was to be considered next, but after a change of portfolio, Dr Bisnauth was made Minister of Labour.

The second request was made to Mr Henry Jeffrey, who had succeeded Dr Bisnauth as Minister of Education, but who instead of preparing a cabinet memo to the effect, responded by advising the Methodist Church to take up the matter regarding divestment with the Office of the President – an act of passing the buck.

The third request was made to the current Minister of Education, Mr Shaik Baksh, who appears to be in disagreement with the request and in so doing seems to be violating the 10th Command-ment of Moses – ‘Thou shalt not covet.’

The Bedford Methodist School building has over those long years been used to store old vouchers and architectural plans belonging to the Ministry of Education, making it a potential fire hazard because of very poor maintenance, improper electric wiring and burnt-out fluorescent lamp ballasts.

Access to the building is from Bourda Street, which presently is overgrown with grass and where a security guard seems to be employed. There used to be a caretaker who is no longer on duty. Access to the building from Robb Street is impossible due to the storage of stall materials belonging to vendors, and a dilapidated staircase.

I therefore make a clarion call − divest Bedford Methodist School and return it to its rightful owner, the Methodist Church of Guyana.

Yours faithfully,
E C Browne

Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Minister of Education Shaik Baksh for any comments he might wish to make.