Correcting misinformation on Dr Adams’s scholarship

Dear Editor,
It was brought to my attention that I made an (inadvertent) error in describing Dr. Vincent Adams’s scholarship (source of funding for his studies) in my missive captioned “Concerns on Dr. Adams’s Academics…” (Sep 4). I penned that Adams received Government of Guyana scholarship, and that he did not fulfill the condition of such scholarships (return home to serve the nation).
He denies this, and asks for a correction. Even if he had not asked for a correction, it is incumbent upon me, in order to maintain my integrity and credibility of some forty-five years of public writings, numbering thousands of articles, to correct any misinformation, once brought to my attention.
The content of my letter was obtained from interviews in Guyana and google. I penned that Dr. Adams received government scholarship to pursue graduate studies in America, drawing that conclusion from the following source (SN Sep 30, 2010): “At the University of Guyana, Dr Adams obtained his BS degree in Civil and Public Health Engineering, following which he won scholarships for post graduate studies at Ohio University and the University of Missouri”.
Dr Adams says he did not obtain Guyana Government scholarships for his studies, and I have no reason to dispute him. Since the information in SN has been left unchallenged for almost ten years, I do not believe my conclusion was illogical. No malice was intended in my conclusion. A clarification about his scholarship is needed.
The Guyana Government policy on scholarship, and indeed from most foreign universities or nations, is that the recipient returns to the home country for public service.
The Burnham fascist dictatorship had given free tuition to UG students on the expectation that they would serve the nation. (That is part of the contract). Most graduates left during the period of totalitarian repression, to escape starvation, racism, and the like, abandoning diplomas and transcripts. Some received scholarships and did not return to service the country because of repressive socio-economic and political conditions.
I was under the belief that since Adams received a Guyana scholarship, he should have returned home to serve the country, rather than remain overseas working for the US Government or private corps.
Because Dr. Adams says he did not receive a Guyana Government scholarship, he was under no obligation to return home to serve Guyana.
No animus was intended on my part. I regret the unintended conclusion, and tender an apology to Dr. Adams. It is my advice that Dr. Adams should inform other publications that penned reports about him years ago to clarify that he did not obtain government scholarships.
I had elaborated about the “scholarship” aspect of Dr Adams’s background because I had been involved in recuperating and assisting several such awardees.
It was Government policy that scholarship holders, including UG graduates post-national service (1974?), who did not return home to serve the nation were blacklisted. They could not get diplomas or transcripts or exit tax clearance. This policy remained throughout the Burnham/Hoyte dictatorship.
Friends and family members who studied at UG and/or obtained public service scholarships abroad were blacklisted, and could not get diplomas or transcripts to further their studies. After the restoration of democracy in October 1992, because I was closely involved in that struggle, I was approached by many to appeal to the Cheddi Jagan Government to give them a waiver to acquire their documents. Some were willing to pay partial costs of their scholarships, or for the cost of their education at UG.
I met with then Minister of Education, Dr Dale Bisnauth, at his office in December, and made out a case why there should be forgiveness for all those who attended UG and/or obtain scholarships at foreign universities to allow these individuals to get their diplomas and transcripts. He insisted the country needed their skills and that they must return home.
I explained to him that the Government’s position was not practical, as no one would leave their higher standard of living abroad to return home. I proposed instead a fee to help compensate for the government costs of education in exchange for their documents. He liked the idea and promised to bring the matter to Jagan’s attention and cabinet.
I raised the issue with him again in April 1993. Subsequently, a policy was undertaken (around 1994) to end the blacklisting. UG and Teachers College began issuing transcripts and diplomas for those that were held up for many years. (If you had connection and/or paid the right amount, your transcript and diplomas were unblocked during the dictatorship).
On a return trip to Guyana, I praised Dr. Bisnauth for his efforts to promote this policy, and for the PPP to put it in force, allowing Guyanese in the diaspora to pursue higher education. I also saluted Dr. Jagan for making it possible for so many Guyanese whose transcripts were blocked to continue their studies abroad and in Guyana.
His founding of UG in 1963 built so many careers. His forgiveness to delinquent scholarship holders built many more. In relation to UG and TC, and even for secondary school education, Dr Jagan should also be hailed for ending the controversial national service policy that played a significant role in the degradation of the country and ruination of so many lives.
Once again, errors pertaining to Dr. Adams are regretted; no ill-will was intended.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram (PhD)