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Jul 12, 2008 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
I felt much joy and sadness reading Vishnu Bisram’s letter “It is never too late to pursue an education” (KN 9/7/2008).

There are so many similarities between the New York and Critchlow Labour College’s education programs, yet Guyanese living in Guyana cannot share the proud story of Mr. Bisram and those New York students.

According to Mr. Bisram, Guyanese adults and senior citizens enjoy a second chance at education in Richmond Hills, Queens, USA, thanks to the Government-funded program.

Persons are trained in computer technology, can get a job, and have the opportunity to get a high school diploma, and even go on to college! This is such good news.

I gather the New York Government does not care about the students’ political affiliation, their age, ethnic minority and different nationality. Mr. Bisram alluded to the challenging moments endured to get the program going and funding sourced.

In the USA, the adopted homeland, he succeeds in ensuring the program’s continuity through the commitment to funding by Government officials and politicians.

Usually, people refer to adults and senior citizens as being in the prime of their lives, or the golden years.

These so-called markers have not prevented New York City from providing a second chance at education that would inevitably translate to productive relevance and, ultimately, the continued development of the USA.

At home in Guyana, the picture is bleak and sad. The Critchlow Labour College provides an education to youths and adults.

For about four decades, the Government provided funding to this institution so it can play its role in education and development.

Then the Jagdeo Administration decided it was going to take away the yearly funding, knowing fully well that this unjust act will impact on the people’s education and the College’s ability to continue its program and contribute to national development.

Like the Bisram New York program, Critchlow offers the opportunity to get a job through education, a chance to get a high school education through its CXC classes, computer literacy with its computer classes, and an opportunity to go to college or university.

In New York, the student population is adult and senior citizen. In Guyana, the population is youth and adult, but the Government ignores these two critical populations.

In both NY and Guyana, funding depends on taxpayers’ dollars. Like Mr. Bisram’s USA approach, Guyanese at home and abroad have appealed to the Guyana Government to release the College’s funding.

In the USA, Bisram was successful; those at home are still fighting to get the Government to honour its responsibility to the citizens.

Guyanese immigrants in the USA know the city cares, and there exists opportunities for them to enjoy the right to education outside of the traditional schools and school years, with the support of their tax dollars. Guyanese at home can make no such claim or take such right for granted.

Would Mr. Bisram join with those appealing to President Jagdeo to release the Critchlow subvention, so that Guyanese at home can enjoy the right to education like their folks in Richmond Hill, USA?
M. A. Bacchus.

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