Worldwide campaign needed for funds to rebuild QC -- Ramphal Stabroek News July 10, 2000 Queen's College needs a worldwide campaign to seek the assistance of the local and international community to aid in the rebuilding of the physical structure of the school, Sir Shridath Ramphal said. In an address to current and past QC students and staff at the Queen's College Old Students Association-organised International Committee of Queen's College (ICQC) General Assembly at the National Cultural Centre on Friday, Sir Shridath, who is himself a QC `Old Boy' said that "restoring Queen's College is part of the process of restoring Guyana". Major portions of the school were gutted by fire in November 1997 and those portions in which total losses were estimated at about $500 million, are still to be rebuilt. QC, Sir Shridath said, needs a worldwide campaign in which "old students, international donors who profess commitment to enhancing excellence in our education system, Guyanese who will not shirk their individual duties and... government" play their role in rebuilding the burnt out sections of Queen's College in order to restore it to its former state. Describing the reconstruction process as a "great national enterprise", he called on the government "who are the victims here" and others not to shirk their collective duties. Claiming that Queen's College "is more than a secondary school. It is the premier secondary school in Guyana and it must be restored to its former place," he said, "that place, of course, is not only in Guyana. Queen's College occupies a place of eminence in the pantheon of centres of excellence throughout the Caribbean. Those centres cannot be created overnight and they cannot ever be created everywhere." Noting that assemblies at QC were important moments in which "we came together and renewed our togetherness as a community", he said that "it was a time of bonding - and of bonding in a soulful way." It was a shame, he continued, that the ICQC assembly could not be held at the school because the Assembly Hall and other burnt out sections of the school had not been rebuilt. He was one of several persons who presented gifts to the school and addressed the gathering which included past students such as Prime Minister Sam Hinds, City Mayor Hamilton Green, former Chancellor of the Judiciary Aubrey Bishop and former headmaster, Clarence Trotz. Sir Shridath, who also launched his publication No Island is an Island last Thursday presented copies of the book to the school library at the assembly. Also making presentations were President of QCOSA New York Chapter Dr Neil Jackman who presented a quantity of science equipment to the head of the Science Department. The Vice President of the same chapter, Lloyd Houston, also presented the school with a record of the school's history over the past 150 years on CD ROM discs. The records, compiled and published by past student Dr Clarence Clarke, said Dr Jackman, would assist the school in helping to rebuild its records lost in the 1997 fire. He indicated that the New York Chapter was also committed to restoring the school's Honour's Board once the school's Assembly Hall was rebuilt. In his greeting Dr Wilton Nedd of the Washington Chapter who is also the coordinator of the ICQC Fund Raising Committee pledged to redouble ICQC's efforts to assist in the rebuilding process. He appealed to the Prime Minister, alumni and President Bharrat Jagdeo to do their share. Ian Wishart of the London Chapter also read greetings from lexicographer Richard Allsopp. Allsopp a past student, former teacher and acting head of Queen's, though now residing in Barbados, has life membership with the London Chapter. Also presenting greetings were President of the Toronto Chapter Edun Gajraj who headed a 25 member strong group to the ICQC meeting, and QCOSA Vice President Conrad Plummer. It was noted that the various chapters were seeking membership from the younger past students as well female past students. QC was a former all-boys school prior to 1976 when the schools became co-educational. The assembly also featured a number of performances by the current students. They included a choral prayer 'Famous Men' taken from Ecclesiastes 44:1-15; a choral rendition of folk songs, a poem recited by Sasha Wallace and a violin solo by Vishaal Persaud. Maritza Lord performed a vocal solo and senior students staged a pageant in which they featured `QC Uniforms; Past, Present and Future'. Both Principal Wendel Roberts and QCOSA President Laurie Lewis welcomed those who were part of the assembly. Roberts was appreciative of all the assistance given to the school by the past students. Lewis chaired the morning's session. (Miranda La Rose) Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today