Photo by Arti Panday
By Arti Panday
Over one thousand guests attended the Voice of the Vedas Cultural Sabha's annual Diwali dinner on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at the Pearson Convention Centre.
Each year, the Voice of the Vedas focuses on a certain initiative to which all donations are directed. This year, the Renal Dialysis Care Unit in Guyana was the beneficiary.
"People in their 60s, 70s, and 80s, should be able to receive care and that's what the goal is," said VOV chairman, Dr. Budhendranauth Doobay, "affordable treatment should be available to anyone who needs it."
A total of $48,000 was raised for the Renal Dialysis Care Unit through donations during the course of the night.
Dr. Sonia Anand, who is currently working on an extensive study surrounding the risk of heart disease in South Asians (the SAHARA project), was presented with the Professional of the Year Award.
Minister of Citizenship, Immigration, and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney who presented the award had this to say: "I cannot think of another institution that has contributed to Canadian society more than the Vishnu Mandir. It begins in the ancient and beautiful Hindu faith. The Mandir has become a place of teaching, healing, and sharing for all people across the GTA."
Apart from Minister Kenney other distinguished guests included the Mayor of Richmond Hill, Dave Barrow, and Cabinet Minister Harinder Takhar.
The evening was packed with performances from members of the temple congregation as well as a dance medley by the Shiamak Davar Bollywood Dance Team and a fashion show presented by Tanzeb Fashions.
Driven to make a difference, a number of volunteers and associates work with the temple to maintain the astounding reputation it has. These members of the Vishnu Mandir were also recognized throughout the evening for their dedication to serving and contributing positively to the community.
Among the recognized members of the VOV community were Vasu Chanchalani and Ajit Someshwar. Both men are known to have been involved with a number of events and projects that enhance the lives of those in the community. One of Chanchalani's recent contributions is the Monument for the Fallen Soldiers of Canada, which is located directly outside of the Vishnu Mandir.
Last year's focus was on the Anand Bhavan senior's residence which is now fully occupied. The residents of the facility were also present at the dinner and were recognized as well.
"Anand Bhavan senior's home is like Utopia," said one of the residents of the home. "They celebrate my Eid, and I celebrate their Diwali, everyone gets along in perfect collaboration."
Apart from the invigorating atmosphere found in the senior's home, occupants are free to practise their own beliefs and are exposed to a number of activities that are aimed at providing entertainment as well as mental and health benefits.
The success of the senior's home seems to have also inspired further expansion in the VOV organization. "The senior's home isn't enough. We need to take care of our elderly and make sure they are comfortable." said Dr. Doobay, hinting at the prospect of a long-term care facility.
in the running
Now on the last lap in the run up to the November 28 elections, four parties are signed on to do battle for the hearts and minds of Guyanese electorates. And the battle is raging fiercely, sometimes with much bitterness and rancour, as the parties take to the hustings.
The scenario this time around is more blurred and less predictable than in any elections previously held, what with the absence for the first time, of any of the Jagans at the helm of the PPP; with crossovers and shifts in loyalty of party heavyweights among the main contenders; with mergers of parties that were previously sworn enemies; and notably with the absence of any de facto charismatic leader a la Burnham, Jagan, Hoyte etc. Added to this, the leaders of the three main contenders - the PPP, the APNU (which is the PNC under another guise) and the AFC - have not held ministerial positions that might serve to guide the electorate in determining their abilities or their modus operandi in the leadership sphere.
On Nomination Day, October 27, 2011 seven parties showed up to be registered as contestants but from reports, only four of them have qualified for the national elections and one party, the East Berbice Development Association (EBDA) will be contesting only regionally.
Those contesting nationally are: the incumbent People's Progressive Party Civic (PPPC); the joint opposition coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), made up of the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR), the Working People's Alliance (WPA), the Guyana Action Party (GAP) and the National Front Alliance (NFA); the second time runner, Alliance For Change (AFC) and The United Force (TUF) which has been contesting since 1964.
There have been many shifts of allegiance recently with personnel from various parties severing ties with their old parties and aligning themselves to parties they previously opposed.
Moses Nagamotoo, a former PPP minister and high ranking PPP executive severed his ties with the PPP citing differences with the party's handling of the death squad and corruption. He later announced joining the AFC where he teamed up with Khemraj Ramjattan, another ex-PPP top executive and Raphael Trotman, ex-PNC executive. He predicted that the PPP will sink without him.
Rajendra Bissessar, another former high ranking PPPite, who had once regarded himself as a hard-core leftist and Cheddi Jaganite, also endorsed the AFC, saying that he was disgruntled with corruption, mismanagement of the country and the handing out of resources to party favourites. He said he was also sidelined from the Executive Committee of the party because he was vocal internally and externally about his concerns.
Dr. Richard Van West Charles former minister with the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR), which was led by his late father-in-law, Forbes Burnham, has broken ranks with the party and endorsed the AFC. Dr Charles said, "Our historical political associations with political parties cannot be the single most factor that drives the choice for a political party on Election Day." He added that his priority was ensuring that the country developed policies for youths.
Former leader of The United Force (TUF), Valerie Garrido-Lowe, who was embroiled in a leadership battle with TUF has joined the AFC stating that the AFC is the only party that has the same and similar policies and programmes for the betterment and upliftment of all Guyanese.
Businessman Peter Ramsaroop, the founder and former member of the opposition group, Guyana's People Partnership, has endorsed the incumbent PPP and its presidential candidate Donald Ramotar, saying the party is the best choice for Guyanese. In a press release, Ramsaroop said that as a former presidential candidate he had advocated for Guyana to become a transport-led economy and this dovetails with the PPP's plans.
"I have had a chance to review the PPP/C 2011 and Beyond Manifesto and find it refreshing that many of the key programs such as the Deep Water Harbour, completion of the Road to Brazil and certain tax reliefs are all in the plan under a Ramotar led Government. In addition, the Presidential Candidate has promised a review of the entire tax system including the VAT which I strongly believe must happen," Ramsaroop said.
Additionally, he stated that he believes that Guyana needs a period of political peace and working alongside each other to ensure that all Guyanese benefit.
Immediate Past President of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Gillian Burton has endorsed the incumbent Peoples Progressive Party Civic's (PPPC). She defended her position stating, "When you look at the manifestos of the other parties, I think the PPPC has a manifesto that not only incorporates the adults but the young people of this country." She cited the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) as one initiative in the interest of the country.
Head of the University of Guyana's Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr. Emmanuel Cummings also endorsed the PPP's campaign trail.
Cummings has pointedly appealed to Guyanese of African descent to vote for the PPP so that party could win Region Four – Upper Demerara/Mahaica- an administrative region that the PNCR has controlled for decades.
Former PNCR executive Joseph Hamilton has also endorsed the PPP, saying the PPP and Donald Ramotar were the only viable option for the country.
Phillip Bynoe, who was jointly charged with Mark Benschop for treason in 2002 and eventually pardoned by President Bharrat Jagdeo in December, 2008, has joined the ranks of the PPP. He had managed to stay out of the reach of the Police until his pardon.
The Justice For All Party (JFAP) led by popular TV owner, CN Sharma, has joined the opposition coalition, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) but Sharma will not be on the candidates' list due to health reasons.
Leader of the Guyana Youth Congress (GYC), Denton Osborne, who broke away from the main opposition Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR) four months ago, announced that his newly formed party endorsed A Partnership for National Unity (APNU). He said that, while acknowledging that the PNCR is the dominant partner in the coalition, the major reason was forging unity. He added the youths of the party, mainly from Region 10, opted to embrace APNU rather than the Alliance For Change (AFC).
Dr. Rishi Thakur, a one-time supporter of the Alliance For Change (AFC), has jumped ship and joined A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), saying he had major disagreements over corruption and the discourse on race and politics. Thakur is among APNU's 26-member leadership.
Asked why he parted company with the AFC, he explained that that party had failed to address concerns about corruption in Region Six – East Berbice/Corentyne.
Winston Felix, former Commissioner of Police, has joined the APNU. He questioned why the government has not held inquiries into the Lusignan, Bartica and Lindo Creek massacres.
In the meantime a lot of acrimony and name calling is coming out at campaign meetings which could engender long lasting bitterness among political opponents, in a society that has a long way to go to heal its present divisions.