Guyanese psychotherapist re-migrating just for the cricket circus
By John Mair in London
Stabroek News
March 16, 2007
Today, he is a very distinguished psychotherapist in the UK treating celebrities in their favourite 'rehab'-the Priory Clinic in South West London:the Hilton of the 'Hello' classes. Five decades ago, he was a young boy running around the compounds of Plantations Albion, Uitvulgt,LBI and Ogle where his father ran the dispensary. Krish Nath will be 'coming home' for the first time at CWC time as both a spectator at the circus and part of a touring cricket team from the UK. The return ticks all boxes for this very competent cricketer and member of the UK Disapora.
Even today, though, he has fond memories of Demerara, Berbice and all the other Guyanese places to which his father's job took him: "Moving around was fun and an adventure. At an early age, I enjoyed meeting new friends and on reflection, it was a practice which served me well in later life. Being fairly conservative in personality, this was an experience and exposure which got rid of any shyness at the time. Some memories are stronger than others. I remember going to the Regatta at Bartica and having lots of fun and I intend to revisit that experience on my current trip". He says excitedly: "At age 9, I once travelled on my own from Wineperu to Bartica and felt quite grown up, I wonder how many people will allow their children to make such a trip alone, in current times!"
After those adventures, Kris' higher education took place in Britain He studied at the University of London, Surrey and Wales. Today, he is a consultant psychotherapist operating clinics in not just the 'Rehab to the stars'-the Priory- but another in an equally prestigious London location-Knightsbridge. He has in the past been a senior lecturer at both Surrey and at Charles University in Prague. He has had close links with the latter and the Czech Republic since an initial visit in 1991 which eventually resulted in him setting up their training programme for their own psychotherapists in 1997.
Today, he is a regular academic and social visitor to the post communist Czech Republic. He is not unsympathetic to the ruling ideology that guided their lives for half a century'.
"Too often people think of communism in the one-dimensional way of totalitarianism, but there are other dimensions to the application of Marxism" he tells me. "This does not mean that I am a Marxist, merely that I believe there are some good aspects to the philosophy."
It would be fair to say he is a sports nut;a trait acquired at a young age on the playing fields of the Guyana coastal plain. Even today, in middle age, he is very sportif. "I have played cricket in the Surrey championships since 1973 at division one level and I still do for Epsom Cricket Club. Playing in the championship has enabled me to play alongside some quality international players from around the world" is his assessment. And cricket is not all.
There are more strings to the Nauth sporting bow. "I play table tennis at league level in Surrey and the Czech republic. Uitvlugt community centre is where I first developed my love for table tennis and my desire to play is just as strong now as then ".
The granting of the CWC to his homeland proved manna from heaven for Mr Nauth and just the excuse for the trip of a lifetime which he had long been promising himself. "It fulfilled a desire that I've had for the last twenty years. Travelling requires effort and sacrifices.
The trade off over the last twenty years was not particularly attractive, when one considered the difficulties in visiting Guyana. I am really hoping that issues such as crime, sanitation, utilities etc, will be better now."
That hope for a better Guyana springs eternal: "I am aware of the high crime rate and also a high incidence of emotional disorders" he says, offering his professional view. "If needed, I would like to contribute my expertise but it has to be done in an organised way."
His diagnosis of the state of health of the country and its future is equally upbeat. "I expect to see people striving to improve and keep up with technological developments. I will expect that Guyana as a nation, will be aiming to be the leading country in the Caribbean and Central America."
Luckily he is part of an organized tour on this trip. Like so many others in the various diaspora , the family roots in Guyana have been ripped up. "I know very few people in Guyana. My immediate family have all migrated to North America and England. I stand a greater chance of meeting someone familiar in Toronto, New York, Florida and London than I do in Guyana" he says."I am particularly looking forward, though, to meeting my relatives who, unfortunately, I do not really know!"
Coming home for World Cup may well be his swan song in El Dorado;a closure as his fellow psychotherapists might say."This may be my last trip to Guyana. Remigration is not a consideration" is his firm view.
"I am settled in England and it is my adopted home. I have a very comfortable lifestyle and my future plans are to travel further over the next five years. The world is still a beautiful place and there are many places still to see, Guyana among them."