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Rice magnate Kayman Sankar hailed a “true patriot”
Kayman Sankar (inset) was remembered as a True Patriot
– as nation says goodbye
87-year-old Kayman Sankar, regarded as “the rice magnate” of Guyana, was cremated on Friday after a funeral service at his Hampton Court residence.
Among the dignitaries who paid their final respects to Sankar were Mayor of Georgetown, Hamilton Green, Aubrey Norton, business tycoons, Dr. Yesu Persaud, Tulsi Persaud and Yacoob Ali, Chancellor Cecil Kennard and General Manager of the Guyana Rice Board Jagnarine Singh.
A number of farmers and students were also in attendance to bid their last farewells to Sankar.
Kayman Sankar, aka “Polo,” became a household name to many influential entrepreneurs and Guyanese politicians around 1966, after he and his brother Mahadoe Sankar and nephew Nandalall left their home in Cornelia Ida in search of fertile lands to grow rice in Essequibo.
He was known for his resilience and managed to cement his name in the rice industry. During decades in the rice business, Sankar produced and exported quality rice on a large scale to the Caribbean and the European markets. However, during the 1990’s Sankar’s business took a down turn and he struggled to keep afloat. He however managed to turn this situation around.
Mayor Hamilton Green remembered his late friend and colleague as a true “patriot”. He said Sankar’s story is one that should be emulated by “the young” and encouraged them to follow in his footsteps. He said Sankar, who was also a sports enthusiast, served as a Member of Parliament in 1996.
Chancellor Cecil Kennard said he came to know Sankar through his brother Charles at the Bourda Cricket Ground in 1965. He said Sankar contributed immensely to the rice industry and now that he has departed the world, family and friends should take comfort in the fact that he did not waste his life.
Jagnarine Singh, General Manager of the Guyana Rice Development Board reflected that during the 70s and 80s when rice production went down, Essequibo was kept afloat because of Sankar’s administrative success towards rice, and the industry as a whole.
Singh said during that period, 500,000 tons of rice were produced while another 400,000 tons were exported.
Civil Engineer, Walter Willis remembered Kayman Sankar as a man who helped him with the practical aspect of his work. Willis said he also worked with Sankar when he established his drying floor at Hampton Court.
Sankar died after a prolonged period of illness last Tuesday, at his Hampton Court residence. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Seraji Sankar, aka Mavis, daughters Sita, Sattie, and only son Beni Sankar.
Sankar was born in 1926 at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara to parents Sewsankar and Dunkee Sankar. He worked as a boy on the Cornelia Estate as a labourer.
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