Guyana is a land of six races, so we have lots of stories to tell. This blog features stories and articles related to the people, history and cultures of Guyana, South America
24th of January, 2022. Region 9, Guyana, South America
Last updated: January 27, 2022 at 5:22 am
21-year old Kemmely Alexia Chapman is a daughter of the Rupununi Savannahs of Guyana, South America. Although she was born in neighboring Brazil, her parents, Karina and Daniel Chapman, are both Guyanese citizens and proud residents of Region 9. As a result, Kemmely is one of those rear gems of Guyana who can speak both English and Portuguese fluently – making her an even greater asset to her country which shares strong and ever-growing diplomatic and economic ties with its southern neighbor.
Growing up in the Rupununi, Kemmely attended the St. Ignatius Nursery School, the St. Ignatius Primary School, and then the St. Ignatius Secondary school where she wrote and excelled in the CSEC exams. Because of her outstanding academic performance, she was immediately selected for a full scholarship to study Communications at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus.
In high school, the young girl was an outstanding athlete competing fiercely in the track & field 400, 200, and 100 meters sprints where she emerged a champion and was named Best Sports Woman at the St. Ignatius Secondary School. She also represented her Region at the National level where she won a gold medal, and in Brazil where she brought home three golds.
In the year 2022, Kemmely completed her two-year programme achieving her Diploma in Communications at the University of Guyana. Kemmely says that her next move is to pursue a degree in Business at the University of Guyana which she will be starting this year (September, 2022).
Join us in cheering Kemmely all the way to the top of the ladder of success as she makes her parents, region, and country proud.
Meet Sir Kenrick Lewis – Headmaster of St. Ignatius Secondary
First Published: 5th of October, 2021 by Patrick Carpen.
Last updated: June 21, 2022 at 14:53 pm
For teacher’s day 2021 – October, 5th, we have the honor of featuring one of Guyana’s most outstanding veteran educators – a young man by the name of Kenrick Lewis who has touched the hearts of thousands of people and impacted countless lives throughout his 26-year long ongoing career. He is presently the Headmaster of St. Ignatius Secondary in Region 9, Guyana, South America.
Mr. Kenrick Lewis was born 44 years ago at the Georgetown Hospital in Region 4, Guyana, South America to Henry and Juliet Lewis, and he grew up on what he describes as the “beautiful island of Wakenaam which is located in the mouth of the Essequibo River.” Kenrick describes his father as a really hard working person and his mother as an inspiration and one of the most caring persons on earth.
Kenrick’s education began at Maria’s Pleasure Nursery and Primary Schools in Wakenaam and then advanced to the Essequibo Islands Secondary School where he graduated with 7 CSEC subjects in the year 1995. After high school, the young Lewis started his career in teaching as a TQM (Temporary Qualified Master), and in 1997 he started pursuing a Train Teacher’s Certificate at the Cyril Potter’s College of Education where he majored in Mathematics and graduated with flying colors in the year 2000.
In 2002, Kenrick Lewis was awarded a Government of Guyana scholarship to study Physical Education and Sports in Cuba where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in the year 2007. In 2008, he started working as a lecturer at the Cyril Potter’s College of Education in Georgetown, and by 2010, he had completed an Education Management Course offered by NCERD.
Move to the Rupununi
In the year 2008, the accomplished and successful Kenrick Lewis met the woman of his dreams – Mrs. Faye Ann Lewis – who at that time was a teacher at the Arapaima Nursery School In Lethem, Region 9. The two dated for two years and got married in 2010. This is what compelled Mr. Lewis to relocate to the Rupununi Savannahs of Guyana – where he now owns his own home at Culvert City, not too far from the Lethem Airport. He lives at his recently constructed home in Culvert City with his beloved wife, their adopted daughter, Anna Jose, and their biological son, Lemuel Lewis.
Mr. Kenrick Lewis poses for a photo with friends and family.
Upon arriving in the Rupununi, Mr. Lewis took up employment at the St. Ignatius Secondary School as the Head of the Mathematics Department. He subsequently started acting as the Deputy Headmaster and was appointed in the year 2014. In 2020, he was appointed as the Headmaster – a position he currently holds and enjoys tremendously despite the many challenges that come with such a position.
Throughout his life, Kenrick says, he was inspired by many outstanding Guyanese teachers – such as Jaidat Persuad, Moses Ramnarine, Chandraka Balgobin, Lenny Mohammed, Seewchand Jewnandan, “teacher Aftab,” and Pamela Thomas…just to name a few. Teacher Aftab, he says, always promoted heath and wellness, and this is something he can relate to since, in addition to being a Mathematics major, he is also a Physical Education teacher and graduate from Cuba.
Visions for a Brighter Future
Mr. Kenrick Lewis has many great ideas and dreams for improving the education system in general, but especially in the Rupununi – a place where he says he feels comfortable and is happy to call his home. One example of this is the classroom sponsorship program where businessmen or other people who could afford it sponsor a classroom. By sponsoring a classroom, your name is assigned to the classroom and you help to upgrade and upkeep it. The “Sponsor a Classroom” program is often advertised on social media and other forms of media accessible to the school. On this note, Mr. Lewis would like to thank St. Ignatius businessman, Mr. Ken Grant, for being the first person to have sponsored a classroom at the St. Ignatius Secondary School – in addition to making various other contributions to the school, and having been proactively involved in helping to develop the school.
Aside from evangelical outreaches, Kenrick also enjoys playing cricket, swimming, and walking for exercise. He advises that walking is one of the “best exercises ever” since it places less stress on the joints and conditions the body gradually.
We’ve decided to enshrine this beautiful article into our archives of Guyanese literature not simply because of its literary value, but also because it highlights some noble standards of parenting.
Look for Your Child’s Talent:
He is more technical and thoughtful. Knows exactly what he wants and formulates a mental plan before heading out.
As parents, we need to seek our children’s abilities and help to guide and equip them for a profession or career that suits such abilities.
Pay Attention to Your Child.
He wanted to go with his sister at Bishops, but got Saint Joseph
In this article, you will notice that Mr. Layne knew exactly which school his child wanted to attend even since in Primary school.
Sow Words of Encouragement into Your Child’s Ears.
Now go with my blessings son, recreate Guyana’s skyline . Your mom and I believe in your natural abilities in creating something out of nothing.
These words are like seeds which grow into trees of success and bear fruits in later years. Prophesy success and greatness into your child.
Congratulate Your Child
Finally, the piece highlights a crucial aspect of parenting: congratulate your child for what he or she has achieved thus far.
My champion, my only son. He is more technical and thoughtful. Knows exactly what he wants and formulates a mental plan before heading out.
He wanted to go with his sister at Bishops but got Saint Joseph
He wrote 10 subjects 100% pass. English A -1 English B -1 Principles of business -1 Geography 3 Physics- 2 Electrical technology -3 Social studies -2 Mathematics -2 Building technology -1 Information technology -2
He has decided not to waste the next two years going back to 6 forms.
He is starting his university life next month doing Environmental and Civil Engineering.
Congratulations Tafari. So proud of you.
Now go with my blessings son. Recreate Guyana’s skyline . Your mom and I believe in your natural abilities in creating something out of nothing.
Whether as a donor, volunteer, student, or recipient, it is Mr. Sugrim’s dream that all Guyanese should engage with the Humanitarian Mission Guyana. Here’s how to get in touch:
During a recent interview with this publication, Mr. Suresh Sugrim, founder and president of Humanitarian Mission Guyana Inc, emphasized that handouts often yield little results, because, as the saying goes, “give a man a fish and you will feed him for the day, but teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime.”
It is on this note that Mr. Sugrim contends that his vision for this charitable organization is the empowerment of the less fortunate in sustainable ways – in ways that will prove self-perpetuating and will yield lifetime results.
From 2005 to 2014, we’ve given away millions of dollars of handouts to those in need, but when we look at the long-term result of this, it is not encouraging. It is for this reason that we would like to steer our efforts into a something more sustainable and self-perpetuating: empowering Guyanese through skills, education, and providing the resources they need to succeed in their passion or venture of choice.
suresh sugrim – humanitarian mission guyana
Empowering Young Men out of a life of Crime
Mr. Sugrim relates that, as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic is over, he would like to start a program for men and boys in Guyana which seeks to lift up those who are frustrated by a lack of opportunity and guidance and put them on the fast track to success.
Some of the programs offered to men and boys include:
Barber
Electrical Repairs and Installation
Agricultural Projects
A greenhouse project in progress at the Humanitarian Mission Guyana, Port Mourant, Region 6
Many of these young men ending up in prison for robbery are often the result of lack of a father figure in the home. Many fathers in Guyana abandon their children, leaving them hopeless, and consequently prone to engage in risky and even criminal behavior. Give them to us, and we will make something of these men and boys.”
suresh sugrim – founder and president of the humanitarian mission guyana
Through the generosity of its donors, the Humanitarian Mission Guyana has handed out millions of dollars of aid to Guyanese and also provides resources. Being passionate about the soil and farming, Mr. Sugrim is enthusiastic about providing farming equipment to those who are serious of making something out of it.
More About the Humanitarian Mission Guyana
The New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission Inc. was established in 2005 in Guyana, South America under the leadership of then Pandit Suresh Sugrim through the kindness and benevolence of its donors.
In 2017, the charity was separated into an independent charitable organization, with no affiliation to race, religion, or politics, and under the new name “Humanitarian Mission Guyana Inc.”
From 2005 to 2014, the organization worked alongside many other organizations and government agencies to provide aid and relief to the most vulnerable communities. Some initiatives saw educational funding for underprivileged children, medical outreaches, food hampers for seniors, and people with disabilities, building homes for single-parent families, providing funding for international surgery, amongst others which we are ever so proud of.
During that time, while some of those we helped were able to break through the cycle of poverty, the majority remained in poverty and kept reaching out for more aid either from us or other organizations that give out aid. We’ve come to realize that providing aid is not the answer and is a temporary fixture.
Some of our life skills training included courses in Cosmetology, Cake Decoration, Garment Construction (Sewing), Information Technology, Balloon Decoration, Electrical Installations amongst others which saw hundreds of beneficiaries. We strive to promote gender equality as much as possible in our courses.
While we continue to provide support and aid to those living with a disability when we can, our new motto became to “Educate, Empower, and Elevate.” Our mission is to provide employable and entrepreneurial skills to persons within impoverished settings in order to break the cycle of poverty, promote economic stability, and inspire hope. Our vision is to see a brighter future for all Guyanese people, where both education and skills are valued at the same level, where those who are not suited to or cannot afford post-secondary education are not limited, and that all able-bodied individuals seek out opportunities to better themselves and break the cycle of poverty.
In the year 2021, the Humanitarian Mission Guyana started a greenhouse project which was constructed in the compound of the Humanitarian Mission Guyana by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha.
The Humanitarian Mission Guyana would never have come this far without the generoristy of its donors who are from all religions, ethnicity, nationalities, and walks of life. We are always seeking volunteers and donors, and any businesses that are willing to partner with us to introduce educational and empowerment projects or programs into communities across Guyana. If you would like to lend a hand, here’s how to get in touch.
As I mentioned in a previous article, Guyana became a failed state after independence, and that downward spiral continues up to present day, with the exception of a few spikes here and there.
This is largely due to what is referred to as the “brain drain.” Needless to say, intelligent people are needed to run a successful country, but after Burnham and Jagan chased the Europeans out, so to speak, the once booming civilization was left without the cerebral mechanism to function.
The ambition of the average Indo Guyanese man back in the early days of colonialism was to imbibe in a good bottle of rum with loud music and some company – after a hard half day’s work at the Estates. The rum was readily furnished to him through the grinding sugar estates. And the ambition of the average Afro-Guyanese man, after slavery had ended, was to lie down with his hands folded on top of a lofty tree limb – after having enjoyed a hearty meal of cookup rice and beans. This is not to say there were not exceptions to the rule.
As a result of the lack of technical expertise, poor marketing skills and a government now comprised of laymen, the economy started to crumble. Estates started to become dysfunctional and unprofitable. This only compounded the existing problem of a lack of human resources. As many Guyanese fled to other nations seeking a better life, those with some amount of “schooling” were given better options in terms of finding a job overseas with better standards of living.
For these reasons, Guyanese parents encouraged and gave their children every opportunity to acquire a “sound education.” With a sound education, these young people could be admitted to college in the United States, Canada or England – giving them a chance to escape the stagnated economy and harsh life in Guyana.
Canada particularly opened its door to skilled workers in addition to academics, and continues to do so to this day. Consequently, with a few exceptions, Guyana has been left with the remnants in terms of human resources – compounding the economic problem and further facilitating the downward spiral of the country.
It is no surprise then, that the Guyana Parliament is comprised of mostly dunderheads. This was clearly demonstrated in the recent case where the APNU/AFC government went all the way up to Caribbean Court of Justice, using millions of taxpayer’s dollars, to try to prove that 33 is not a majority of 65. Then there is the case of an attorney by the name of Neil Boston talking about “discrepTancies” during a court hearing which was being streamed live. And last but not least, there is the mayor of Georgetown who said “you cannot put ail in people’s hands who already ailed.” Decode.
