Dear Editor,
I wish to share my recount of a ceremony I attended as an invitee on Tuesday February 12th, 2019, to commemorate the birth centenary of Valerie Muriel Rodway, CCH, LRSM at Lot 94 Car-michael Street, Cummingsburg, Georgetown.
The ceremony was honourable and befitting the awardee. It was euphoric for me now an adult, recalling my school days when we lustily sang our national songs with music composed by Valerie Rodway. A symposium took place on Wednesday, Feb-ruary 13, 2019, at the Education Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen Cam-pus. On May 16th, 2019, a commemoration of stamps was presented in her honour.
Presiding over the renaming of the National Trust Building to the “Valerie Rodway House” was former President, His Excellency David Granger, MSS, MSN. The event evoked a sense of nostalgia stirring within Guyanese present, feelings of pride and dignity for recognition, even though posthumous yet relevant and recalling President Granger’s words “She helped us to discover our Guyanese-ness.” Her honour was every Guyanese’s honour.
Having relived the above in penning this letter, I now bring you to what I find very disconcerting surrounding this honour. While walking on Carmichael Street and approaching the National Trust Building looking up with pride for the words “Valerie Rodway House” I could not believe the sign was absent, removed, but removed to where, and when? My mind walked back in time from this moment in December 2021 to February 2019. Did I really attend those events, or was it a dream, a figment of my imagination something I desired to make real?
Editor, I was numbered in the 1960 census of British Guiana, prior to Independence. As a Guyanese, I wish to be consulted with the rest of the citizenry when heritage signs are being removed or relocated. Excluding citizens is to rob the nation’s children of our history. A one Guyana and Guyana’s motto of One People, One Nation, One Destiny, I believe, speaks of preserving unity through consultation. I further believe we can only be united through inclusivity. To act independently is to place an unnecessary yoke on the responsible Minister and his ministry. To serve is to consult. Wisdom says: “There is good advice in many counsellors.” What disturbed me was, were the family of Valerie Rodway notified that the honour was deemed insufficient recognition of her significant contribution, and that the sign was therefore being removed?
Editor, this letter has been pending since December 2021, when I first noticed that the sign had been removed. My curiosity got the better of me, and I walked into the office of the Ministry of the Presidency, housed in that same building, renamed after Valerie Rodway, and inquired to whom I should speak regarding this independent action. I was told by a member of staff that inquiries of this nature needed to be directed to the office of the Permanent Secretary, which was located elsewhere at the time. Having been redirected elsewhere to an office outside of my proximity, I let the matter slide.
Editor, some months later in the year 2022, as I walked past the office of the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports on Main Street, the matter came to mind again. I went in and approached the security personnel. How can I make an appointment to see the Minister? The security guard telephoned the Minister’s office and asked me to speak with a secretary or personal assistant, who took my name and number and promised to call me, a call I never received. Unfortunately, I am unable to identify the staff member by name from my diary entries for that year. There was no further follow-up from me.
Notwithstanding, this matter remained constant in my mind and continued to disturb me. An obligation not to walk away from this inquiry would not depart from my thoughts. The responsibility is mine as a citizen, as the responsibility is our Ministers, to consult, as I am doing in penning this letter.
The recent lament, in February 2026, by Mrs. Annette Arjoon Martins, the widow of legendary Guyanese singer and songwriter Dave Martins, has brought this matter back to my attention.
Editor, I penned a letter dated February 24th, 2026, directly to the honourable Mr. Charles Ramson Jr. Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, copied to the President, His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali. Both letters were delivered on the same day to both offices. I have requested that any courtesy he offers regarding this matter will be appreciated. I am hoping to receive clarification regarding my concerns.
Finally, in doing my research on this matter, I found an article by Village Voice dated February 22, 2025, with the caption: “Valerie Rodway: Guyana’s Musical Legacy and National Treasure” by Admin. Having read this article I recognized that Guyanese are unaware this sign was removed independent of consultation with its citizens.