By Leon Suseran
The Humanitarian Mission Guyana Inc spread holiday cheer and human kindness over the December 25 weekend across East Berbice, including villages along East Canje, Angoy’s Avenue, and East Bank Berbice. The photographs of the activity tell a painful story of how many of our seniors and children who simply cannot do things on their own, have been forgotten and shoved aside by families and by extension, society.
The organization continued its visitation of the elderly, sick, shut-ins, forgotten, bed-ridden, and neglected of society, even after Christmas Day.
“Seniors are the building blocks of our nation. We build a house in a very strong foundation. Some of these houses comprise of shacks. No water, no electricity… the smell. Although I have a mask….some of them are placed in ‘foul coups’. It’s rough,” lamented CEO of the Mission, Suresh Sugrim.
“Things rough here. Things rough, as much as government is trying. The challenges here for some is real. The wealth and upper class are doing fine. But what happens to all these shut ins that advantage afford to get a doctor?Families can’t afford to pick up and put them in a car. I’m not giving up for the seniors,” the humanitarian declared.
Sugrim and several volunteers carried out the event. It was only made possible by countless overseas and local donors and Sugrim expressed thanks. The hampers totaled some GY$600,000 according to Sugrim.
Many of the persons that were visited and given hampers had stroke-related conditions, spinal injuries, while others were just born that way.
Sugrim said the activity took a mental toll on his psyche as he saw some real abhorrent living conditions including a bucket placed under a wooden stand as a toilet in a wooden shack.
Meanwhile, days earlier, the organization had graduated 173 students from the community in several skills and vocational areas. These areas included: sewing, nail tech, cake decoration, cooking, hair, makeup, electronics,electrical repairs, basic IT. At that graduation ceremony held at the Albion Sports Complex, remarks were made by Sugrim as well as Administrator of the center, Ms Rajshree Singh.
