I salute and commend Mississippi Senate candidate Scott Colom’s (voluntary) service as an educator in Guyana for 16 months (2005/06). In following the Senate race in the ruby red (and red neck) state of Mississippi, known for harsh measures against advocates for equal rights and voter rights, Mr. Colom has come across as a down to earth, approachable, unpretentious, humble, caring, compassionate person who champions the small person (voter). In many ways, he was like Cheddi Jagan (without the communist ideology) who entered public service to serve (service-oriented) not for self-enrichment or persecute others. It is exceptionally rare for someone with Colom’s background to dedicate over a year of their life to teaching in a small overseas village without any immediate political or financial incentive. By choosing to invest time, energy, and heart directly into the children of Guyana, Colom demonstrated a selfless brand of educational leadership that transcends borders, the like of which not known in diaspora except for a rare few and hardly any in Guyana.
The journey from a humble background in USA to a classroom in an impoverished rural village (not named) in Guyana without electricity and water to being a lawyer and a state prosecutor, and now as a candidate for Senate (on the doorstep of a stunning victory thought impossible) is nothing short of extraordinary. (His Republican incumbent opponent blocked his appointment by President Biden as a federal judge). This is a testament to a rare and profound commitment to public service, the like of which has been hardly seen in Guyana as a volunteer teacher and even among the diaspora. In an era where leaders are often measured solely by political ambition, Colom’s story stands out because it is rooted in grassroots dedication, empathy, and a willingness to serve rather than be served that characterize the life of almost every politician, save the likes of Jagan, Janet, Gandhi, Mandela, and a few others. His service-oriented demeanor apparently has shaped his outlook in life. Hence, his decision to seek elective office to serve others and uplift lives just like Jagan. He truly belongs in office as he is not seeking fame and fortune as most politicians do. He is not the typical politician. He has made it clear he is not serving a political party (Democrat) but the people of Mississippi. He said he likes certain policies (lower taxes but not on immigration) of President Trump and will work with him for the betterment of his state.
Colom stated that experience in Guyana fundamentally shaped his perspective on public service. Wow! And to know few Guyanese politicians behave like him! It taught him that true leadership begins with listening to the needs of the vulnerable youths, understanding the daily struggles of ordinary people, and recognizing that education can uplift lives. The patience and humility forged in those Guyanese classrooms laid the moral foundation for the public servant he would eventually become. How many Guyanese politicians can be so described?
What makes Colom’s chapter in Guyana truly remarkable — and worthy of the highest praise —is how distinct it is from the diaspora. Within both the Guyanese-American community and the wider global diaspora, over a million have successfully transitioned to life in Western nations, building professional careers in education, engineering, law, medicine, business, and even politics. During the period of the struggle for restoration of democracy in Guyana, 1966-1992, few of them showed concern about human rights violations, starvation and persecution of Guyanese. They left Guyana behind preferring to forget their terrible experience under the dictatorship. Few lifted a finger to champion restoration of democracy in the homeland. Only a handful of us (Ravi Dev, Baytoram Ramharack, Vassan Ramracha and his brother Rennie, Chuck Mohan, Mel Carpen, Arjune Karshan, Samad Ally, Joe Kanhai, yours truly, among a few others) in the diaspora dedicated our lives in an unyielding struggle to champion free and fair elections and ending rights violations in the homeland. Few lobbied American politicians to pressure the dictatorship to restore democratic governance. (Various factors militated against others joining the struggle against the dictatorship – subject of another article). Only a handful of us (Ravi, Baytoram, Vassan, Rennie, myself, among a few others) traveled back and forth to Guyana (1981 onwards) during the dictatorship to join the struggle on the ground against the dictatorship; we took risks going to Guyana and were harassed, intimidated, and even beaten. (Others didn’t set foot in Guyana during the dictatorship because they feared for their lives having received threats). When democracy was restored in 1992, several groups have been volunteering from 1993 onwards in (mostly) medical missions to serve the less privileged communities and to give out hampers. Migration tends to create a one-way street where success abroad remains disconnected from the soil of one’s roots. Those who volunteered to serve their former homeland, however little and seldom, post 1992 are commended.
Scott Colom’s service in Guyana as well as those who spent time combating the Guyanese dictatorship offer a powerful inspiration for others in Guyana, US, and elsewhere. It shows that the best leaders and personalities are those who have walked among, are caring, and sought to understand the people they seek to serve. They don’t use the people for self-enrichment.
As Colom seeks to build on his political career, that service in Guyana as a volunteer and his desire to serve with dedication and integrity remains a powerful symbol of his character. Colom and those volunteers from the diaspora, especially those who spent time in Guyana helping others during the dictatorship and championing democracy, have set a gold standard for what it means to be an authentic, caring, compassionate person and a truly global citizen. Won’t it be wonderful if others could follow suit?