Dear Editor,
On January 10, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and the PPP suffered a great loss when the stalwart Dr Moti Lall died in his sleep.
The 69-year-old doctor who was a pulmonary specialist, a former member of parliament and Chairman of the Central Housing and Planning Authority championed the causes of the Guyanese people.
He was well known both locally and internationally, and he was my best friend. He fearlessly represented his country and the medical fraternity at countless meetings overseas. He was indeed a true patriot. Dr Moti Lall grew up in Buxton on the East Coast Demerara, and therefore had a good appreciation for the poor and downtrodden. These experiences served him well and were reflected in the very understanding and efficient manner in which he helped to solve their problems.
Dr Moti Lall was called upon to serve the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in 1960s by the late founder leader Dr Cheddi Jagan, and worked his way up to the Central Executive Committee of the party. He also worked with the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for a number of years, and was especially known for his work on tuberculosis. He used his wealth of experience to lobby for improved health care in Guyana. This ‘country boy‘ was a grass roots man, and had his own style of dealing with sick people‘s problems.
One of his visions for the Central Housing and Planning Authority was to increase the income and improve the working conditions for the employees. Dr Moti Lall always worked assiduously to have unity among the directors and workers at the CH&PA since he believed that this was one way forward. His demise came as a shock to me as his good friend and comrade.
His exuberance and simplicity encouraged those who came into contact with him to be steadfast and relentless, and to be hopeful while working to achieve better goals. In his own aggressive and indomitable style, he touched the lives of those of us who worked or associated with him as former members of the Board. He will be remembered by all as a true patriot of Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan
Former Director
CH&PA
