Dear Editor:
Fidel Castro expired on November 25, at the age of 90, but whatever may be said of his achievements or disappointments that followed the revolution of 1959 it is difficult to dispute the success of the educational system that produces a literacy rate of 99.7%. Cuban doctors served in many countries while foreign students received scholarships for training in Cuban universities then returned to serve their respective nations. Both Fidel and Argentinean born revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara were well educated and shared the dream of Jose Marti to link their destiny to the poor in the world.
I was fortunate to see this plan in action in Cuba in one of my many visits when we went off the beaten path away from the beaches and the luxury hotels. Our trip was promoted as an opportunity to sleep under the stars on the Sierra Maestra mountains in the Province of Santiago de Cuba. I could not miss an opportunity to visit the historic area where the first shots of the 1959 revolution were fired. We started out from the lowest point at a camp on the Caribbean Sea and walked up hill for about two hours sometimes on a dry, rocky, river bed that left one of my companions with a sprained ankle. During the entire trip only one man on horseback and a few cattle crossed our path. We finally reached a farmhouse and next door was a school with only three children of different ages. The teacher lived in a small room in the same building. She told us this system reaches every child in the country no matter how remote and then the children move on to another school.
How was this country able to achieve this despite decades of US embargo? The answer is not in any political system. Communism, Dictatorship, Capitalism, Socialism or Liberal Democracy exist all over the world but fails miserably in educating their population. The most powerful or wealthy nations in the world cannot boast of a similar achievement. Why is this now not possible in Guyana a country with less than a million people and a historical literacy rate that was once the envy of its Caribbean neighbours?
There are generous Guyanese abroad who would like to see their schools and villages improve. There was a groundswell of goodwill particularly after the 1992 elections. The late Dr. Dale Bisnauth, when he was Minister of Education, had given his blessings to the “Adopt A School Program” but over the years the enthusiasm faded. The schools that received more help generally had an active Parents Teachers Association which kept in constant contact with their donors abroad.
With proper coordination we may one day see every school, temple, mosque, or any other religious or social organisation with a well-stocked library with books and materials supplied by those who care not which political party forms the government.
Ramnarine Sahadeo, Brampton, Ontario

Dear Editor:
President Granger in his Christmas message expressed that “Guyana is our motherland” and reminded Guyanese that they have a collective duty to ensure they keep their homeland free from disaffection and discord. But by his own action, he is the main reason for the disaffection and discord.
How can a President sit in his chair and approve the borrowing of US$10 million from the Caribbean Development Bank and then apply those funds to four villages only?
How can a President sit in his chair and approve 38 national scholarships for scholars, less than 10 of whom were certified based on their passes at the CSEC exams? The other 28 have no place on the list of Guyana scholars as they did not qualify to be on that list. Isn't this a dilution of the efforts of these 10 young children who passed their four and five subjects at the A-Levels with distinction? But to add salt to the wound, one of the 28 persons was the daughter of the Minister of Education! Isn’t this nepotism? Isn’t this the same thing Donald Ramotar did for his children? If it were wrong then, why is it not wrong now? Are we going to continue this attitude under Granger?
Shame on Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Vice President Carl Greenidge, who have experience in government and who ought to know better. They both served in previous governments but allowed some G$10 million per year of these funds to be distributed to their cabinet colleagues, making them into part-time Ministers on a full-time salary. They both failed to guide the novices in the Granger administration to do the right thing.
Going forward, half the time, two Ministers (Furguson and Henry) are out of the country on fully paid leave away at school learning how to be a Minister.
Shame on you both for allowing this executive squander to happen on your watch.
Surujdai Lilmohan via email