The season for the conferment of national honours has again arrived, and this year’s honourees would be invested by His Excellency, President David Granger on Thursday at a special ceremony at the National Cultural Centre.
The custom of nationally recognising those citizens who have contributed to the betterment of society in important and unique ways is of an ancient and universal vintage. In modern practice, this is even more true as it is done all over the world as it shows that the State values the efforts and contributions of its citizens in various aspects of national development.
For some years, however, within recent times, no national honours were conferred and many felt a sense of loss. President David Granger, from his background as a boy at Queen’s College and his career in the Armed Forces, understood how important national honours were and has put new life into the custom.
Citizens have been honoured for contributions in a variety of fields. There were those who worked in the fields of education and culture, in humanitarian activities, in industry and commerce and other facets of the economic life of the country. There were also those who contributed in the fields of sport, labour relations, in health care, in the defence of the country and in the maintenance of law and order.
Citizens feel a sense of gratitude to those who have served so well and respect such persons. Many of the persons honoured happen to be men and women of wealth or independent means and influence. But many are also of modest means and do not have much influence in the society. In this latter category would fall the career Public Servants who had spent their lifetime in service to the public and who, when they retire, are not known to the younger generation, who have taken over.
To make the national honours more respected we would suggest some tangible recognition should also be given. For example, the authorities should consider giving those honourees who are 70 years and above, some priority at the public hospitals and public health institutions. They should not be allowed to wait in line for service or be charged for any medicines, equipment or service. Such equipment like walking canes, walkers and even wheelchairs should readily be given by the authorities. They should also be given immediate help or hospital admission in case of emergencies. In cases where adequate or prompt help cannot be accorded to such honourees by public health institutions, the State should bear the cost of treatment at private hospitals.
Further, sometimes, some of these old honourees have to go to Government offices such as the Guyana Revenue Authority or the Court Registries since some of them do not have relatives who could help out. In many cases, these persons are asked to wait like everyone else and are made to go through the same hassle. As a start, it would be good if these persons could get some immediate help in Government offices so that they are not subject to the distress of long waits and hassle.
Additionally, the courts should take cognisance of old honourees who may have certain business before such courts. It would be very helpful if some amount of effort is made on the part of the courts to have such matters expedited since the health of such persons is declining.
Certainly, the mechanism of how all of this could be done could be worked out once the principle is accepted. After all, such persons have given a lifetime of service to the nation and if there is anything the State could do to make life easier for them, it would be a commendable move.
It should be noted that we have not suggested special pensions or special expenditures which will take time to effectuate, but have suggested things which could immediately be done to make the lives of the old honourees more comfortable. Such tangible recognition would happily be supported by the overwhelming majority of citizens at home and abroad.
