The University of Warwick has renamed its Centre for Caribbean Studies after businessman Yesu Persaud and a ceremony in his honour was held at the Pegasus Hotel on Friday.

Yesu Persaud (left) receiving a wooden pen from David Dabydeen on behalf of the University of Warwick.

According to a release from DDL, the Yesu Persaud Centre for Caribbean Studies was unanimously approved as the new name by the University’s decision making body after a proposal was made for the name change by Guyanese-born Professor David Dabydeen.

Speaking at the ceremony held in Persaud’s honour, Professor Dabydeen said this year the Centre, one of Europe’s leading institutions for Caribbean scholarship, celebrates its 25th anniversary and the renaming is a wonderful way to mark the Centre’s anniversary. Dabydeen added that he hopes Persaud, Chairman of DDL and the founder of the Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED), will use the pen to complete his book on his life story which, the release stated, will soon be published.

‘I was so touched by his life achievements and his movement from poverty and a canefield worker to what he is now. This I told to the University which was overwhelmed with his life story. Honouring him with a Doctorate was not enough which is why I proposed to the University to consider renaming the Centre for Caribbean Studies after him. The proposal went through the University’s committee which unanimously decided to rename the Centre in honour of Dr. Persaud,” Dabydeen said.

British High Commissioner and a graduate of the University of Warwick 30 years ago, Fraser Wheeler, while commenting on the DDL chairman’s achievement said that Persaud has been instrumental in strengthening the link between Warwick and the Caribbean.

He said he found him to be a great friend and source of information noting that Persaud is, “a man of great stature, has achieved extraordinary things and is yet modest and I congratulate him on his achievement.”

Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir speaking at the ceremony said that Persaud is an inspiration to Guyana and his determination is one of his astounding qualities which are noteworthy. “He is a great motivator to this country and to young people and we look forward to his book so that we can read and emulate this great Guyanese’, he added.

Persaud’s lifelong friend and colleague, Bishop Randolph George said, “I am privileged to be called one of his friends. His business acumen, humanitarianism and his spirituality make him one of the greatest Guyanese living today and I congratulate him on his significant achievement.”

Persaud is the recipient of several international and national awards and the man of the moment, speaking on his life, challenges and successes throughout his career in England, stated that he was determined to return to Guyana to help in the development of his country of birth. “I was determined despite having a successful career in England to return to my homeland and fulfill the promises I made and to add to the development of my country especially the Private Enterprise Development.”

Persaud is the founder and Chairman of IPED which stimulates and finances entrepreneurs and small businesses. He is also the Chairman of Guyana’s first indigenous private sector bank, Demerara Bank Ltd. He is a leading and respected Guyanese business figure and philanthropist and he is also known for his support of human rights and democracy.