One organization and one individual were awarded when the Rotary Club of New Amsterdam held its World Understanding and Peace Awareness Dinner and Awards ceremony at the Caribbean Cuisine, Number Two Village, East Canje, Berbice.
The awards ceremony and dinner saw the recognition of the need for peace and harmony. It is customary that in February, each year, events and peace talks are conducted around the world to foster peace and harmony amongst mankind.
The feature address was delivered by Professor Lloyd Kunar of the University of Guyana. Dr.Kunar who is a Berbician by birth is the holder of three MSc degrees from various Universities and is the holder of a PhD in Geophysics which he secured from the University of Toronto.
He has also taught and worked worldwide.
A retiree, he is currently employed at UG as professor in the Faculties of Natural Science and Technologies. He is also working with the Ministry of Education and the National Centre for Education Resource Development in developing a national Science policy.
Professor Kunar focused his presentation on Science and Technology and their impact in the developed and developing countries, and what the Rotary Club can do to contribute significantly to a more rapid growth in Guyana.
He congratulated the Rotary club and Rotary International and other fraternal organizations such as the United Nations, for developing programmes to promote man’s wellbeing in diverse areas and to help in the understanding of peace.
He stressed the need for mankind to show acts of kindness to each other and to live with less hostility in an effort to create peace in the world.
Kunar called for parents and teachers to play a greater role in ensuring that children are better educated .He alluded to the grave shortage of Science teachers in the secondary schools and in tertiary institutions in Guyana, more so in Physics and Chemistry. He stated that there seems to be a lack of interest in the study of Physics beyond the CXC level.
He also challenged the club to work along with the Education Ministry to identify and to plug any loopholes that may affect children’s education and to work along with schools to ensure that laboratories are functional and well equipped and to encourage the children to spend more time on the Sciences, an important component in what happens in the world today.
He challenged the club to come up with a plan that could include incentives and the awarding of Scholarships to support students and schools in Berbice in the quest to do more science.
President of the Rotary club, Rohan Marray, said the organization through the Rotary International has placed a lot of emphasis on education during the last ten years. He stated that Rotary is one of the leading service and Charity organization in the world and the NA Rotary club is doing its part in helping to make the world a better place.
The Rotary club took the opportunity to present awards to Nand Persaud and Company Limited, which has a number of extensions countrywide, and to Retire Nurse Midwife Mrs. Marlene Jack.
Nand Persaud Rice Milling Complex was established in 1992 by the late Nand Persaud and is now operated by his sons Ragindra and Mohindra Persaud, and other family members. The company is the home of Karibee rice.
Among some of the other establishments are two Communication Centres, spare parts business, bag factory, gas station, spare parts centre, Trucking Service, Seed Treatment Factory, Fertilizer Supplier, rice cultivation and cattle rearing.
According to the organizers, the company was chosen because of its significant contributions to the development of Berbice over the years, and also for creating jobs and is continuously expanding its operations.
Retire Nurse Midwife Mrs. Marlene Jack was awarded for her sterling and unselfish contribution over the years in the delivery of health care and community service in Berbice and Guyana.
Nurse Jack or Sister Jack has she is known has worked for more that 39 years as a nurse mid wife in all the hospital and major health centres in Berbice, before retiring.
Nurse Jack has delivered many babies both in hospital and at home and even though retired she serves in the private and public sector.
She is currently the Epidemiology Nurse attached to the Ministry of Health and the Berbice Regional Health Authority.