Oh, what Guyana could have been!

Jul 14, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
I would like to share, from personal experience, the achievements which Guyanese are capable of, by relating the educational voyage which an old friend of mine completed with great distinction. Denis Solomon, a school-mate of mine from Queen’s College (1961-1967), was always an achiever and always brought home to his Syrian-Guyanese parents living on Smyth Street, grades which were at the top of his form (class) at QC.
Denis, I remember, always won prizes for bringing first or second each and every term at QC and was a good friend and one to look up to with admiration because of his disciplined approach to his studies, his humour and unique Syrian-Guyanese “look”.
He was respectful and correct in every way and always, neat and well dressed. My father, President Cheddi, always liked Denis’ disposition and encouraged me to be more like him, especially in my studies; these were the times when Denis often visited at Red House to play cricket and just “hang out”.
Denis and I lost touch for over 44 years and just 2 weeks ago, he contacted me through KN and our friendship has been renewed, but the achievements which Dr. Solomon, PhD. has under his belt are truly amazing, and I would like to share them with your readers and the general Guyanese public, all of whom should be proud of what this son of Guyana has accomplished since he left these shores for England where his advanced education in scientific research (including work at the University of Miami) should be enough to nominate him for one of Guyana’s leading prizes given annually by the President.
I would like to thank KN for fowarding Dr. Solomon’s e-mail to me as it has become an important reunion in my life, bringing back many memories of a good past.
Denis Solomon is a scientific inventor and has patents on the following: 1. (10/12/88) -Use of gaseous Tritium light sources (Beta lights) with respect to nocturnal illumination; 2. (2/20/02) – Bioabsorbable matrix for use as surgical/medical dressing; 3. (3/4/02) Bioabsorbable matrix for use as surgical/medical dressing; 4. (12/17/03) – Pre-conditioning of heart tissue; 5. (12/22/04) – A surgical dressing for the treatment of body burns and for normal healing; 6. (3/29/06) – Biotissue engineering for preparing human cells for transplant into damaged human hearts which includes an extracellular scaffold; 7. (2/4/08) – In vitro human skin test assay protocol; 8. (10/8/08) – Recognition of melanocytes in benign and cancerous tissue; 9. (12/22/10) – Topical composition for the healing of wounds; and 10. (6/15/11) – An in vitro skin assay protocol which directly uses the natural cellular interactions between un-manipulated autologous human epidermal and dermal cells. These achievements can be verified at: esp@cnet database-gb.
Denis has also written a published book under a pen name, even designing the cover, and though it’s not about science, he is quite proud in its publication and marketing.
Imagine where we would be in our development if all the brainpower of Guyanese who left these shores and made remarkable achievements had benefitted our country directly – by their returning to take part in building a better Guyana.
But the politics of race and division has rendered our country weak, especially in technology and science, where all the best brains have migrated for better “pastures” and like Denis Solomon, see no real future because of the political and economic conditions facing the citizens of our dear country.
I am just not proud of my friend’s achievements because he was my good buddy from QC; no, I am just as proud because he’s a son of our motherland and a product of our best instincts as a nation.
I take my hat off to Denis Eon Solomon, my dear friend always, and as we said in the old days about brilliant persons in Guyana: a true “brainiac”.
Cheddi (Joey) Jagan (Jr.)

One thought on “Oh, what Guyana could have been!”

Demerara9 October 21, 2011 at 12:43 am

Hello Joey, I would like to learn more about the Syrian-Lebanese of Guyanese background. If you know of anyone I could get in touch with, please let me know. If you also have any articles on the Syrians and their experience in Guyana, please forward them to me at [email protected]
Thank you
Brian