Dear Editor,
A prominent NY-based Guyanese, James Permaul, a Port Mourant native, passed away last Monday in NY. He was well-known for his commitment to the Guyanese diaspora in America. He gave a lot of financial assistance to Guyanese groups and American charities. We will miss him enormously and join with his family in their period of bereavement. Permaul’s body was interred on Friday.
Permaul was a teacher at the Nath High School in Berbice before emigrating to NY some 40 years ago. He studied and worked as a medical lab technician doing blood tests for over 25 years. He was one of the founding members of the Indo-Caribbean Federation of North America (IFCNA) established in 1984 and served as its President for two years organizing Indian Arrival Day celebrations in Queens. He was also a participant of the International Cultures Day in Manhattan bringing Guyanese into that sphere of American cultural celebrations. He was one of the main organizers (others being Dr. Mahin Gosine, Vishnu Bisram, Prof. Roop Persaud, etc.) of the celebrations commemorating the 150th. anniversary of the Indian arrival in Guyana held at Columbia University in July 1988; Basdeo Panday and Dr. Cheddi Jagan were honorary guests. Participants came from all over the globe to deliver papers at that conference. Permaul also organized a cultural presentation in Jamaica with performers from all over the Indian diaspora.
Permaul also assisted us in the struggle for free and fair elections in Guyana and helped with fundraisers for the late Cheddi Jagan when he was opposition leader and other opposition parties. He served diligently in community activities and he was recognized for his hard work and dedication with several community-based awards.
James will be remembered for his numerous acts of compassion and unselfish generosity donating to several worthy causes not only benefiting Guyanese but Americans of all ethnicities.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
