Mr. Yesu Persaud is truly an outstanding Guyanese

Nov 24, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
I write to congratulate Mr. Yesu Persaud on receiving an Honorary Doctorate from UWI, Trinidad on October 30, coming on top of another Honorary Doctorate from the University of Warwick last year.
And three years ago he received the prestigious Pravasi Samman Award granted by the government of India to select Diaspora Indians for outstanding achievements. I feel truly honoured to know Dr. Persaud. He is truly deserving of the latest recognition for his enormous contributions to society.
In NY and in Trinidad, people congratulated Yesu for his achievement. Friends from NY went to the convocation ceremony in Trinidad to honour this Guyanese luminary. There was much enthusiasm among the delegates from NY during a private reception in Trinidad and at the convocation ceremony. And the ceremony presenting him the certificate was a wonderful affair.
The Principal of UWI, Clement Sankat, a Guyanese, hosted a reception before the convocation at the principal’s guest hall. A Who is Who of Trinidad, some 200 guests, including diplomats, were present. At the commencement exercise, there was pomp and pageantry inside the university’s gym – a massive area with about 6,000 people including over 3,000 graduates. Yesu gave a short but inspiring speech when he was honoured. He advised the graduates, “to go forward in the world, be themselves and be uninhibited in their aspirations”.
He told the audience the recognition meant more for him because it was given to him at home in the Caribbean. There was much applause and praise when he was presented the Doctorate as well as after he spoke to the students.
It should be noted that the institutions Yesu has led have helped to transform the lives of ordinary Guyanese. He has directed the creation of numerous manufacturing facilities, and overseen the creation of the world’s largest grass root “poor people bank”. The micro-credits of the bank, in particular, have helped many poor people to lift themselves out of poverty. He has established global leadership, vision, and excellence in business. I feel proud that a Guyanese is honoured with a doctorate.
Yesu, as he is fondly called, has a long list of business achievements. But Yesu also made a very important contribution to the restoration of democracy in Guyana through his participation in the GUARD movement. He stood up to the dictators even when his life was threatened. In addition, he played an important role in moderating Dr. Jagan’s Marxist ideology that made Cheddi palatable to the West that had deep suspicions about a radical Jagan’s presidency.
In my presence, Yesu had lengthy chats with Cheddi at the 1989 GOPIO Convention in NY suggesting that he toned down his hard core Marxist rhetoric so as to get the US to pressure Desmond Hoyte to hold free and fair elections. I remember Cheddi telling us at the Sheraton Hotel that “I am more Gorbachev than Gorbachev”. Although initially Cheddi resisted Yesu’s advice and described Yesu as a capitalist, Yesu maintained the pressure on Cheddi in Guyana and succeeded in getting him to moderate his ideological position.
This no doubt encouraged the U.S to force Hoyte to hold elections under international supervision. At that convention, Yesu, Ravi Dev, Baytoram Ramharack, myself and a few other patriotic Guyanese were also instrumental in getting GOPIO to raise the issue of fraudulent elections with the late Chairman of the Democratic Party, Ron Brown and with Ted Kennedy.
This would later lead to Kennedy’s famous press release calling for fair elections in Guyana, the US State Department’s intervention, and Carter’s visit that paved the way for the nation’s first democratic elections.
Yesu also has played a significant role in cultural renaissance in Guyana following the restoration of democracy. His group of businesses helped people and charities regardless of background. It should not be forgotten that Yesu was the chair of and instrumental in getting the public holiday in 1988 for the 150th anniversary Indian Arrival celebrations. The list of his other achievements is endless.
Thank you Yesu for your invaluable contributions to our homeland and the international image you present of Guyana.
Vishnu Bisram

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