Dear Editor,
Could the President of Guyana, acting in his capacity as the Chancellor of the Orders of Guyana, explain the rationale and give justification to the Guyanese public for selecting Hamilton Green to be the recipient of the second highest national award?
According to the details of the orders, decorations, and medals of Guyana, the Order of Roraima of Guyana (OR) is limited to only thirty-five living Guyanese recipients and is awarded to any citizen of Guyana who has given outstanding service to the nation. Specifically it is reserved for Guyanese who have gained distinction and eminence in any field of endeavour of national or international importance.
On bestowing the honour on Mr Green, it was stated that it was for his “long and outstanding involvement in the struggle for independence and for his role in providing public service for three generations.”
Now this cannot be serious. What about distinguished gentlemen the likes of Fenton Ramsahoye and Balram Singh Rai of the same era who contributed significantly more to the independence struggle than Hamilton Green without his controversial past? What about the iconic political figure Eusi Kwayana? Is he not more deserving than Mr Green for his independence contributions? None of these gentlemen were considered and one wonders whether these awards are reserved for friends of politicians who are in power.
And on to the second part: “providing public service for three generations.” Is this award merely for political endurance and prolonged existence? Let us look at Hamilton Green’s prolonged political life. As Mayor of Georgetown, the only distinction he probably has is that of being the world’s longest serving Mayor, whilst Georgetown deteriorated to the filthiest and most lawless capital city in this hemisphere. Is this award for converting Georgetown from the Garden City of the Caribbean to the Garbage City of the Caribbean?
Is this award to recognize his role as the enforcer, as he headed several ministries eventually becoming Prime Minister. If he provided such sterling public service for three generations why did Burnham remove him as First Vice President and replace him with Desmond Hoyte? Why did Desmond Hoyte put him out of the party? What kind of message is the Presi-dent sending to the young people of Guyana? That they should emulate Hamilton Green?
Yours faithfully,
Mark Roopan
