Home Letters Mahadeo Shivraj should be honoured & supported for his films
Dear Editor,
My attention is drawn to a missive from Haji Roshan Khan in another paper, stating that celebrated actor and producer Mahadeo Shivraj has never received support from any Government for his films, which largely focus on Guyana and the Guyanese diaspora.
Haji Roshan noted that two other producers, Bunny Alves and Charmaine Blackman, also did not receive support for their productions.
Government should consider giving support to local producers and actors in the entertainment industry. News reports and a letter, “Others who contributed to Guyana were not honoured as Wright”, in your paper (Feb 14) indicated that Ms Letitia Wright, the Guyanese-born, British-educated actress, was honoured by UG with an honorary doctorate. I congratulate the British actress on her achievement as an actress, and for her being honoured. However, I can think of many actors, other entertainers, artistes, and so many others who also distinguished themselves in various fields, who made (and are making) greater contributions to Guyana than Ms Wright, and who are very worthy — perhaps more deserving — of an honorary doctorate. I endorse the recommendation that these artistes and other distinguished Guyanese in their various fields of endeavour should also be considered for honorary doctorates without, as Massiah put it, “cheapening the honoris causa”.
In the field of entertainment, I would like to nominate Mr. Mahadeo Shivraj, a distinguished Guyanese in the diaspora just like Ms. Wright, for an honorary doctorate as well as Guyana’s national honours.
Mr Mahadeo produced, directed, and acted in several movies and dozens of plays in the diaspora and in Guyana. He is ingrained in, and has lived among, the Guyanese community in America (New York metropolis and surrounding cities). He supported charitable causes in America as well as in Guyana – fundraising for worthy causes in his homeland and for natural disasters around the globe.
Whenever Guyanese groups (organizations) called for his gratis service on fundraising drives for worthy causes, he was there. In addition, he trained Guyanese actors and gave opportunities to many in his several films, and he has been involved in many promos on Guyana to encourage tourism.
He socializes with and in the diaspora, and is a frequent participant at festivals. He was also a regular participant at commemoration of national days. He most certainly is qualified for an honorary doctorate in addition to other honours from the Government.
Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram