Our historians have missed a great deal by placing too much emphasis on the role-play of parties, and political and social factors in writing the pre and post-independence history of our nation. If they had stopped to think of the crucial role played by what may be considered to be ‘ordinary people,’ they might have recognized that they could have had far greater influence on the evolution of events than is generally thought. Take for example the confidential secretaries who served the prime ministers and presidents of this period. Ruby Harry, Jean King and others who may yet be unknown to the general public, have been ‘witnesses to history’ in a manner which would turn any historian worth his salt green with envy. Another such was Celina Diana Harewood, who passed away on November 18, 2011, ten days before the last General and Regional Elections.
Verbally deft, neat, punctual, always well dressed and endowed with an engaging personality, Celina had a public service career which lasted almost four decades, during which she served some of the most powerful men in Guyana. In these capacities she was privileged to rub shoulders with the high and mighty of the globe. Present at Commonwealth, Non-Aligned and other meetings at which the world’s leaders congregated, she could converse on the importance of these meetings as well as offer insights into the qualities of the participants. Celina Harewood could produce a flawlessly typed document and returned those to erring officers which
