At weekend village do … PM SAM HINDS, MINISTER MANICKCHAND AMONG HONOREES -- thanks to initiative of three Mahaicony visionaries

Written by Parvati Persaud-Edwards

Sunday, 29 July 2012 00:54

Source - Guyana Chronicle

THE Mahaicony Movement Team, comprising founding members Bevon Shepherd, Steven Jones, Roy Vaux, along with some other Mahaiconians, began a one-day initiative in 2011 that catalysed this year into a three-day affair, projected to become a calendar event called “The Mahaicony Village Weekend”.

Education Minister Priya Manickchand with top student of Region 5, Andrew Persaud, and his parents

Last Friday evening, the Mahaicony Community Centre ground came alive with floodlight tournaments in basketball and football – the Prime Minister Region 5 Basketball Tournament and the Region 5 Seven-a-side Football Tournament.

Yesterday morning, the Ministry of Health hosted a Health Fair under the auspices of the Team, as part of the Mahaicony Village Weekend.

Bevon described this event as highly successful. He informed the Guyana Chronicle that, as part of the Health Fair, there was a blood drive, glucose and blood pressure testing done on the spot, and display of oral hygiene; with health-related pamphlets shared out by the Ministry of Health. The Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsarran, was in attendance, and was an active participant at that event.

In the afternoon Mahaicony honoured five of its own outstanding citizens, namely Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, Dr. C.E. Harricharan, Mr. Clyde Butts, and GDF Pilot Mr. Courtney Buyrne.  However, the Prime Minister’s son, Nikolai, attended the ceremony on his father’s behalf, as the PM was attending the funeral of his mother.

Minister Priya Manickchand flanked by, from left, MC Francis Downer; Founding member of the Mahaicony Movement Team, Bevon Shepherd; representative of honoree PM Hinds’s son Nikolai; Honoree Dr. Harricharran; and Founding Member of MMT, Steven Jones.

Mr. Clyde Butts, cricketer  extraordinaire, as Chairman of the W.I. Selectors, was of course busy elsewhere with business having to do with the first Test match between New Zealand and the West Indies; and Mr. Courtney Buyrne was busy with pressing duties.

During the afternoon programme, the top student for Region 5, Andrew Persaud, was also awarded with a trophy, with Minister Priya Manickchand doing the honours. Andrew has been an outstanding student, according to chairman of the proceedings, Mr. Francis Downer, and had, among his many accomplishments, won the National Dramatic Poetry Competition for 2011.

Yesterday’s events concluded with a cultural programme including songs, dances, skits and poetry.

Today, the final day of the Mahaicony Village Weekend, will conclude with the finals of the Prime Minister Region 5 Basketball Tournament.

Wonder which gift young Andrew will remember on this momentous day in his life -- the one in the box, or the one on his cheek?

In a very brief address following the awards ceremony, Minister Priya Manickchand thanked the young men who  envisioned the initiative and had the courage to follow through, despite the many constraints, not least of which was funding.

On behalf of the honorees, she thanked Mahaiconians for the honour bestowed upon them, stating: “When we do what we do, it is not usually to be recognised, or to receive a plaque or an award. It is really responding to a call to service, but it is always lovely to have persons note and say thank you; but it is really you we want to thank for giving us all the opportunity to serve you. So, Mahaicony and the rest of Guyana, we say thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve.”

That three young men can pull off such an event without much support of any kind says a lot for their commitment to their community, their dedication to enhance and showcase their beautiful and bountiful part of Guyana, and their perseverance in the face of great odds.

They deserve much commendation for their organizational skills; but greater synchronization is needed, because the regional authorities should play a greater part in such activities, which could only enhance the success of a very successful initiative.