US-based Guyanese remember less fortunate villagers

Dec 28, 2014 Sports

Adeshwar ‘Harold’ Wickeeram examines the medal that Rajnie Persaud was awarded for her high academic performance at President’s College.

By Dale Andrews

It must be the closest thing to how Santa Claus operates, except that he did not come on a reindeer-led sleigh or did he sneak down a chimney. He rode in a car with three of his helpers, taking Christmas cheer and gifts to those who needed it most in the small East Coast Demerara community of Enterprise.
Adeshwar Rickeeram, called Harold, is a product of Enterprise, and together with a group of fellow villagers who reside in the USA, they have formed the Enterprise Support Group (ESG) USA Inc., dedicating their time and finances to help their less fortunate brothers and sisters back in the country of their birth.
This year, Harold, who happens to be the president of the group, made the trip back home to ensure that those villagers who need help at least see one of the people providing it.
Mind you, it’s not only at Christmastime that the ESG USA Inc. has been doling out help; they have been doing it all year round for many years. In fact the group has been Santa Claus to a number of villagers of school age, helping them through high school, as long as they maintain a satisfactory level of academic performance. They have also been helping those who are physically or otherwise challenged and are finding it difficult to get by.
Last Monday, having been given the mandate of his colleagues, Harold visited some of the beneficiaries; and one could tell from their facial expressions and heartfelt greetings that they were overjoyed to see him just for a few minutes to thank the group for remembering them.

Adeshwar ‘Harold’ Wickeeram examines the medal that Rajnie Persaud was awarded for her high academic performance at President’s College.

His first stop was at the home of Deomnie Prashad called Reshma, who has a rare condition that has resulted in her being incapable of walking. Looking at her no one will know that this adorable 19-year-old cannot walk on her own. Her connection with the group happened by mere chance.
“We used to walk around and see this kid and we never knew that she could not walk. She would dress up and sit down on the verandah and look out, until somebody told us that this girl cannot walk and cannot go to school like the other children,” Harold explained.
Immediately the group was moved by the situation and pledged to support her financially.
For Reshma, her association with the group is not a short term arrangement; it is a lifetime thing for the ESG USA Inc.
Bapatie Basdeo was his next stop and the 65-year-old, who lives alone, was extremely happy to see Harold and his team when they entered her yard. Basdeo has lost her husband and son and has been struggling with the little pittance she manages to acquire. She now qualifies for the meagre old age pension, and with the monthly financial assistance she is now receiving from ESG, life is a bit less harsh.
Rohit Baichu is a diabetic, having been a chronic “drinker” for most of his life. Eight years ago he lost both legs as a result and now depends on his wife to maintain the household. He too qualifies for assistance from the US-based support group.
“His wife is not so educated, so she does domestic work to try to make ends meet. You really can’t ask a man like this to earn an income, so he met the criteria for our help and has been receiving a monthly financial assistance,” Harold explained.
Although Harold spent a short period of his life in the village itself, most of the villagers seem to know him personally, since he has been reconnecting with them at every given opportunity. But while many of the beneficiaries were showering him with praises, he was keen to point out that the assistance does not come from him alone; in fact he made it clear that the ESG USA Inc. is not a one-man show.
Money for the various projects in Guyana is raised through donations from members in the USA and other fund-raising activities.
Shameer Azeez, now 35 years old, was three years old when he fell from a bed and broke his foot. It did not heal as it should, and since then he has been confined to a wheelchair. But although he is one of the recipients of financial support from the group, he busies himself by mending shoes.
Other beneficiaries include Bissoondai Budhai; Surojanie Sooknandand, whose husband received the first prosthetic limb from the group; Savitri Ramrattan and Mohamed Ayube, a former canecutter, who has been paralysed for the past 14 years.
Fourteen-year-old Presidents’ College student Rajnie Persaud is the group’s benchmark recipient. She is the first person to benefit from the ESG education financing. She cannot walk, but is one of PC’s the top third form students.
“When we came and saw her condition, she’s the one that motivated us to do what we’re doing right now, so this is the beginning, and I think that she will make us real proud. This kid is doing excellent in school,” Harold stated.
Numawattie Kellawan, who has zero income coming to her, is another recipient. But while she is grateful for the financial assistance, she was very concerned about a decent funeral for herself, since she has no close relatives alive.
“Alyuh gon help me out when me dead? Me nah gat nobody…me join burial society, but dah nah go be enough…me gat fuh worry,