REMARKABLE  SERVICE.

An OP/ED by Max Hinds:

 

In the afterglow of what was obviously an extremely accomplished management of a week of celebrations surrounding the 25^th anniversary of our existence, it might be apposite for our readers who are members, to reflect on the journey that we have made to reach this point. In all humility we should acknowledge that, given the many pitfalls that accompany human effort, we may not have reached this point, in this condition, were it not firstly through the grace of our acknowledged Maker, and secondly through the invaluable, even if sometimes critical, support, intervention, and cooperation of a whole host of our fellow human beings. They have ensured by their goodwill that we have followed the right path, in the right direction, to reach these pinnacles of achievement.

 

Some believe that one of the best ways of repaying kindnesses received is to strive to bestow like kindnesses on those we identify as needing in that regard. Even as we rightly enjoy a camaraderie born and nurtured by our prevailing over shared struggle, let us remember that some of our comrades, through circumstances beyond their own control, could not join us, not even in spirit.

 

Not everyone forgets this truism, least of all the subject of this article, one Ms. Beverly Somerset who this writer was privileged to meet, finally, after hearing so much about her from visitors to Guyana over the past few years. Beverly , known to her SQUADDIES and contemporaries as Thriller, came to our 25^th Anniversary celebrations as part of the large XGDF Guyana contingent. And if on this first visit to the Big Apple she was overwhelmed by its sophistication or urbanity, she certainly didn’t show it. Indeed, this writer upon first meeting the lady, was immediately struck by her single minded purpose and extension of her chosen vocational calling, even as she was supposed to be relaxing and having a good time among old comrades.

Let us therefore examine this example of one of the real reasons we have formed so many vibrant ex-soldiers organizations throughout the world, and why we must renew our commitment to stay away from self-absorption and hubris and seek constantly to ease the burdens of our brothers and sisters who may find themselves weighted down and incapacitated by too heavy loads.

                                             

 

Beverly with Cheryl Tappin who heads up our welfare effort in NY.

 

Beverly Somerset is the Welfare Officer of the XGDF Association of Guyana. Her responsibilities are primarily the care and encouragement of some 85 Shut-In ex members of the GDF, GPM and GNS, of both genders scattered throughout the length and breath of Guyana . In an interview for the XGDFNY website she disclosed the following information about herself and her work.

 

Q. What are your military credentials?

A. I joined the GDF on 15^th June 1976 aged 20 yrs as a recruit. I retired on the 30^th June 2005 as a Sergeant-major. In between I successfully completed 8 training courses including Instructor, Skill at Arms, Tactics and Senior Administrator; became the first woman to climb Mt. Ayanganna in 1992; spent 12 years as an instructor at the Tacama Battle School ; and was appointed location commander for GPM bases at Cove & John and Linden .

 

Q. You certainly spent a lot of time in the field. What was your most rewarding experience?

A. Definitely climbing Mt. Ayanganna which was very difficult for me, but my training came into play and saw me through, or up.

 

Q. Tacama is considered a hardship location, what with burning hot days, cold nights and endless flies, not to mention the remoteness and loneliness. Yet you spent 12 years there! Are you a bush lover?

A. Not really, in between courses I had ample time to travel down to the HQs near the coast. You must also remember that Tacama is a serenely beautiful place especially at sunrise and sunset.

 

Q. Now having retired you seem to be as much on the go as when you were “On strength”. Tell us some of what your activities entail?

A. I ride a beat up six year old motor scooter up and down the coast [Laughter] and most days besides the worry of it constantly breaking down, I have great difficulty in attaching the various bags and boxes of goods I need to take to my clients.

 

Q. I understand you look in to the needs of over 80 ex soldiers. How do you organize this?

A. The current figure is 84. We are constantly hearing through word of mouth of an ex soldier who may have fallen on hard times or might otherwise be confined or immobile because of ill health.

 

Out of these requests and recommendations, I visit and interview the person and his/her caregivers to assess his/her condition and needs. I then prepare a report for the Management Board of the XGDF Guyana, which then makes a decision about the type and scope of the assistance we could offer.

 

Once an individual is placed on the list, I try to make weekly visits to those in town, and fortnightly visits to those out of town. The current range of my visits is from Alness on the Courantyne Coast ; to Linden in the south and to Vergenoegen on the West Coast.  If I can’t visit as planned I have learnt that I have to make a phone call, since my unexplained absence appears to cause anxiety.

 

Q. Anxiety? So they have grown to depend on you? But how much can you and the XGDF Guyana realistically provide?

A.  Most Shut-ins are grateful for whatever little assistance we can provide. I think they want to know that they are not forgotten by their old comrades, especially when family circumstances might include estrangement from loved ones.

Also I find that if I can get them out as a group for activities outside their homes, it greatly improves their mental state. Whenever possible I would take 25 of them on fellowship to a particular church; after church we may partake of a light meal in a venue like the Botanical Gardens. This is always appreciated. As is our annual Xmas party.

 

Q. That sort of thing requires considerable logistic support, e.g. transport, how is this accomplished?

A. The lack of resources is frustrating. I get to use one of the business vehicles of Col. Gomes whenever it is available, but you would appreciate that its business needs take priority. At the end of our gatherings we would sometimes take persons to the car park and give them the fare to get back home. 

 

Q. You are rueful about your old bike and you express frustration about your inability to transport your clients adequately. What are your other needs?

A.  I find that the most pressing need among these ex soldiers is for assistance with purchasing medication especially for those suffering from diseases of the eyes. One of the avenues that used to be of great benefit to them was the free medication service dispensed at the NIS offices, but that has been discontinued so they now have to pay commercial prices for medicine which can be as high as Guy$10000 per dosage.

We do receive some assistance from Food for the Poor, usually in the form of hampers. That is not nearly enough, so we are appealing to ex soldiers in the Diaspora to send us trough the various organizations things that are non-perishable like clothes (especially Pajamas and slippers), cosmetics, medication like eye drops, and of course cash.

 

Q. Appears that the ex GDF organizations in NY, LA, Toronto and Atlanta have a crucial role to play in maximizing your effort. They could be the conduit for considerable assistance, couldn’t they?

A. Of course. I would like to mention at this time some of the persons in the New York area who have been providing me directly with continuous support. Veronica Primo, Gerry Alleyne, Rickford Edwards, John Nichols, Bayard Zephyr, and Sandra Fraser-Thomas come readily to mind, there are others.

 

Q. Any other points you want to raise with our readers?

A.  Yes. We would greatly appreciate your visiting with us whenever you come to Guyana . When you do come, walk with little gifts or tokens to show the shut-ins you will meet that you remembered them. It makes them feel good, and that makes our work so much easier.

                                          

  Beverly and Lorraine Glasgow exchanging tokens of appreciation.

 

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