Another honour for Dr. Yesu Persaud

Apr 28, 2010 News

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– Warwick University renames renowned centre after him

Renowned Guyanese entrepreneur, Dr. Yesu Persaud, has received more recognition for his work in the area of business and contributions to society in Guyana and the region.
This time, the University of Warwick has renamed its Centre for Caribbean Studies after Dr. Persaud, who is the top man of major business establishment, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).
The centre will now be called ‘The Yesu Persaud Centre for Caribbean Studies’.
The year 2010 marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Centre, one of Europe’s leading institutions for Caribbean scholarship.

According to Guyanese-born Professor, David Dabydeen, who proposed the renaming, it is an act of great significance for the Caribbean.
“Many of our centre’s staff and fellows have examined how in the 19th century hundreds of thousands of Indians were shipped to Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica, to cut cane, as indentured labourers, replacing African slaves. (Dr.)Yesu Persaud’s forebears were such indentured labourers, and Yesu himself worked in the cane fields. So for us at Warwick to name our Centre for Caribbean Studies after him brings a little beautiful closure to that aspect of history.”
The Centre researches all aspects of the Caribbean’s history and culture.  The Centre’s Associate Fellows have included Lord Alli, Professor Stuart Hall, Baroness Young, Trevor Phillips and Baroness Amos.
The Centre also offers a Baroness Amos Research Fellowship which is open to staff and post-doctoral applicants from the University of the West Indies, the University of Trinidad and Tobago and the University of Guyana.
The Centre’s other long running link with Guyana is its annual Walter Rodney Memorial Lecture, given in honour of the distinguished Guyanese historian killed in 1980.
According to The University of Warwick’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nigel Thrift, the renaming is a wonderful way to mark the Centre’s 25th anniversary.
“I am also delighted that Yesu Persaud has not only been an active Associate Fellow of the centre but, through his friends and business colleagues in the Caribbean, Europe and North America he has also brought in significant financial support for the Centre’s work. We have long thought that all of this work should be more recognized. I am delighted that he has now agreed to allow us to rename the Centre in his honour. I know this will be warmly welcomed by Guyanese and Caribbean people.”
Yesu Persaud has been an Associate Fellow of the Centre for some 12 years and received an honorary Doctorate from the University of Warwick in 2008. Other senior Caribbean related figures to be so honoured by the University connected with the Centre include Guyana’s Sir Shridath Ramphal (a former Chancellor of the University of Warwick), Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott, and Sir Hugh Springer (former Governor General of Barbados).
Dr. Persaud, is a leading and respected Guyanese business figure and philanthropist. He is also known for his support of human rights and democracy.
He has received several international and national awards including: the Gandhi Organisation Plaque for his contribution to promoting Indian culture in Guyana, the Cacique Crown of Honour for the development of new industries in Guyana in 1983, and the Glory of India Award and Certificate of Excellence by the India International Friendship Society in 2005.
In 2006 India honoured him with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman for his outstanding contributions in business and Indian history and culture. Persaud is a founding member of Guyana’s Indian Arrival Committee which was later converted into the Indian Commemoration Trust. He is one of the main persons responsible for creating the Monument Garden which marks the arrival of the first batch of Indian indentured labourers to Guyana in 1838.
He has risen from working in the cane fields of Guyana to become one of that country’s leading business figures. As well as being the Executive Chairman of the Demerara Distillers Group (DDL) of Guyana, he is the founder and Chairman of the Institute of Private Enterprise Development in Guyana which stimulates and finances entrepreneurs and small businesses; the Chairman of Guyana’s first indigenous private sector bank, Demerara Bank Ltd; the  first  Chairman of the Private Sector Commission of Guyana; past President of the Guyana Manufacturers Association; the founder and past President of the West Indies Rum and Spirits Association; and a member of the Advisory Group to the Caribbean’s Chief Trade Negotiator, Sir Shridath Ramphal, on Caricom international negotiations.
He was past Chairman of CAIC  (Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce) and during the 1980’s – 1990’s, he along with his colleagues such as Sir John Goddard, Sydney Knox, Tommy Gatcliffe, Ken Gordon and Pat Thompson were  instrumental in moving CAIC from a dormant organisation into a thriving entity. He was also Chairman of the Caribbean Council for Europe (CCE), and remains a Trustee of CCE.
CCE had international reach, holding highly successful seminars and workshops in Trinidad, Dominican Republic, London, Brussels, Curacao and Havana to name a few countries. Mr Persaud’s inputs were supported by his close friend and colleague, David Jessop.
Yesu Persaud was one of the founding members of GOPIO (Global Organisation for People of Indian Origin) which was formed in the latter part of August 1989.  This organisation has been able to do some excellent work with the Indian Government.  As a result of representation NRI (Non-Residents of India) could now have a dual citizenship as Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and could apply for a PIO card which facilitates travel to and from India without a visa.

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