Dear Editor,
“Courage [patriotism] doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage [patriotism] is that quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I’ll try again tomorrow,” wrote Mary Anne Radmacher.
Most people see the Guyanese who remained and didn’t leave the country during the tumultuous political and economic times as courageous, heroes, brave and patriotic.
I agree. I have great respect and admiration for those people who stayed in Guyana.
However, I believe that it was also important for some people to leave and return to Guyana and returning home from overseas is a form of patriotism.
I believe that a “Come backee/ returnee,” is also brave, courageous and patriotic.
One of the greatest acts of kindness, selflessness and patriotism is returning to live in Guyana after living overseas for half of your lifetime.
There are three men who have remigrated and have dedicated their lives to serving unselfishly the citizenry of the country.
If their returning to serve is not an act of kindness, love and patriotism for this country then I don’t know what is.
Leaving Guyana helped them to develop certain skills, which enabled them to develop the country.
For example, the exceptional skills, experience and training that Dr Vincent Adams acquired from living in the USA helped prepare him for the job as Director of the Department of Environment.
Likewise, the training and experience working on Wall Street in the USA that Mr. GHK Lall acquired helped him to be one of the best Chairman of the Guyana Gold Board in the history of the organization. Because of his honesty, integrity and highest morals, we have not heard anything about corruption, during his tenure at the Gold Board.
For an organization that has been plagued by corruption scandals, not to hear about any corruption scandal in the last three years goes to show the type of leader Mr. Lall is. He is incorruptible.
Mr. Lall is not working for a salary at the Gold Board, and he refused to even take a stipend, even though he puts in countless hours working at the Gold Board. How many people in the country are refusing to accept pay for working?
Where did Mr. Lall learn to be so selfless and patriotic? He learned it from his deep religious faith and from living in the USA.
Unfortunately, these values of selflessness and patriotism are rarely being taught in the country.
Another “Come back he” is Dr. Ivelaw Griffith, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana.
In this writer’s opinion, Dr. Griffith is one of the best and most qualified Vice Chancellors the University of Guyana ever had.
Let us take a look at Dr. Griffith’s experience and training.
As a political scientist, Dr. Griffith served as professor of political science and provost and senior vice president at York College of the City University of New York.
Dr. Griffith was professor of political science and budget dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Florida International University (FIU) and provost at Radford University in Virginia.
Editor, it was important for Dr. Griffith to leave these shores and go abroad to help himself so that he can help the citizenry of this country.
As you can see Editor, migration is not a bad thing as long as the diaspora return to help the country.
All three of these men have done that. This is why I believe that these men and others who are “Come back he” are brave, courageous, and patriotic.
These men are sacrificing a great deal to serve the interests of the people of this country. Their decision to leave the USA after living there decades was courageous and patriotic.
So it’s time for the locals to realize that not only those who stayed in Guyana are brave, courageous and patriotic. If these men are not patriotic, courageous or brave then I don’t know who is.
This is the golden era and chapter of the country’s lifetime. If you are a citizen of Guyana and you have done well in your career in the diaspora, then you have a moral obligation to return home and give back to the country.
Therefore, I am encouraging the diaspora to join me in returning to Guyana to serve the country.
Is it only those Guyanese who remained in Guyana during the daunting challenges of the country who are patriotic, brave and courageous?
Yours faithfully,
Anthony Pantlitz
