Good intentions lead to good outcomes

Mar 17, 2020 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

As I read Guyana news, I often wonder when Guyana will get its next national hero, after Cuffy and Cheddi Jagan. It seems that a country with so much potential, still has many of its citizens desiring migration as their first priority; a natural outcome of the surrounding unpleasantness/hopelessness.
After my heroes – my mother, sisters, and wife, I would say that the late Sir Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell, from Barbados, was another great aspirational leader. He indirectly transformed the West-Indies, Guyana included, into one relatively cohesive society and directly created a cricket team with longstanding victories and some of the greatest cricketers.
In the 1960-61 summer tour of Australia, the West Indies (WI) cricket team changed the way cricket was played, earned the respect and admiration of the cricket world, and permanently cemented cricket in the British WI as one united cricket team.
Frank Worrell was appointed as the first Afro-West Indian to captain that team which toured Australia. Worrell knew that he could not fail and so he asked his team that under any circumstance they must not behave in an unprofessional and discourteous manner – on or off the field. Worrell, a man of impeccable conduct and strong principles, got immediate buy-in from the team.
WI lost the series by the narrowest margin, but the team’s performance was so impressive that:
– A perpetual trophy (Frank Worrell Trophy) was created by Sir Donald Bradman, in honour of Worrell
– the Brisbane match was labelled the greatest test match ever played, a match with a tied result.
– The singing of “for he is a jolly good fellow” to Worrell at the trophy presentation ceremony, although the Australian team was receiving the Trophy.
– a ticker tape farewell of 500,000 Australians turned out to greet the WI players on their motorcade send-off.
– an integration of the white Australian and WI players off the field, despite an “all-white Australian policy” in effect until 1973.

The team comprised players of many different countries and races, African, Indian, white, mixed, etc. Worrell regarded them all with a positive embrace. For example, Rohan Kanhai’s tendency was to lose his wicket just before 100. At a later test match in Trinidad and Tobago, Worrell went on the field, at the players’ gate, to give Rohan moral support when he was nearing 100. Unfortunately Rohan did not make his 100 that day.
I recommend the YouTube 3-part documentary titled: Calypso Summer 1960-61 – you will see all the great Guyanese Legends, etc.
Worrell, an all-rounder, but better with the bat, was knighted for his services to the game in 1964. After active cricket, he was appointed warden of a hall of residence at the University of the West Indies and became a senator in the Jamaican Parliament.
Born August 1, 1924, he died of leukaemia in March 1967. A memorial service for Worrell in Westminster Abbey was the first to honour a sportsman. The almost entire Barbados population turned up at his funeral.
Local Guyanese have said to me that “this place don’t have good people”. I know several who are good; one of whom became an integral part of my life. I also know some overseas Guyanese who are/were in critical jobs for which they were recognized for stellar performance and exceptional conduct.
Guyanese should never give up striving to be outstanding citizens. They should always remember that good and virtuous intentions and acts lead to positive outcomes.
Thank you,
Fizul Rahim

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