An open letter to President Jagdeo

Dec 22, 2008 Letters

DEAR EXCELLENCY,
I write to you generally on the subject of the absence of the announcement of National Awards and Honours for the past six years, and more particularly, to make representation for a higher National Award to be bestowed on Guyanese cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

As Chancellor of the Orders of Guyana, you are undoubtedly aware that a system of recognising and honouring the outstanding contributions of citizens is a fundamental feature of a well organised society.

In Guyana, the people anxiously look forward to these honours being bestowed on a scheduled basis. The inexplicable absence of an Investiture Ceremony for six years has been the subject of continuous conjecture and debate.

More particularly, I wish to bring to your attention the outstanding performances of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, on whom you bestowed the Arrow of Achievement earlier in the year. I, on behalf of the AFC, have been on record as saying as recently as September, 2008 that he is deserving of a much higher award.

I am certain that you will agree with me, and with the hundreds of thousands of Guyanese and cricket loving people throughout the world, that no other Guyanese has achieved the same records as he has in international cricket, and this feat should be recognised.

We all believe that he is deserving of the highest commendation from the Government and people of Guyana.
In the circumstances, I implore you, as Chancellor of the Orders of Guyana, to give urgent and favourable consideration to a higher award being bestowed on Mr. Chanderpaul, and for the recommencement of the Annual Investiture Ceremony as there are many, many Guyanese who are deserving of national honours at all levels and for whom recommendations have already been submitted.

Raphael Trotman