Former Minister of Education Dr Dale Bisnauth laid to rest

Apr 10, 2013 News

The Burns Memorial Presbyterian Church at Irving and Anira Streets, Queenstown, overflowed with hundreds of people from all walks of life yesterday, as Guyana bade farewell to esteemed former Education and Labour Minister, Reverend Dr. Dale Bisnauth.
Among those in attendance were President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand and other members of the Cabinet.

Dr Dale Bisnauth’s (inset) body being borne out of Burns Memorial Presbyterian Church

Other distinguished attendees included Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman, APNU Parliamentarian, Dr Rupert Roopnarine and former President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Many whose lives Reverend Bisnauth touched paid tribute by reflecting on his contribution to the social, cultural, religious and academic development of Guyana.
He was remembered as “a gentleman, an academic and historian, who served the body of Christ and his country well.” Some compared his political contribution to society to those of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr Bisnauth was also a writer and a member of clergy. His publications include A Short History of the Guyana Presbyterian Church (1979), History of Religions in the Caribbean (1989), and The Settlement of Indians In Guyana: 1890-1930 (2000).
He was appointed the Minister of Education in October of 1992, on the accession of the PPPC to office and he held the portfolio until March 2001.Bisnauth later became the Human Services and Social Security and subsequently served as Minister of Labour, under the Bharrat Jagdeo administration. Up until the time of his death, Bisnauth served as the Chairman of the Board of Industrial Training and he was also the Associate General Secretary for the Caribbean Conference Churches and Pastor at the Guyana Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Bisnauth died of heart complications last Thursday, April 4, at the Caribbean Heart Institute. He was 76 at the time of his passing.
Following a heartfelt funeral service, the body of the former Minister was taken to the Crematorium site at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara.