Expensive Editor,
I consult with an article captioned `Recovering painkiller addict Keith Burrowes desires to forestall others going the identical route’ printed within the Sunday Stabroek on 12/03/2023.
This text was meant to spotlight the intense well being penalties of utilizing opioids, even when it’s within the type of ache killers. I publicly congratulate the author of the article who additionally carried out the interview. The article was written as a warning to others and is a normal illustration of how I developed an unhealthy reliance on opioid-based ache killers to handle continual ache and my restoration.
After the above-captioned article was printed, a number of mates and colleagues inspired me to make clear or broaden a number of subjects within the article. You will need to word that the article was printed earlier than I had the chance to evaluation its contents. The intention of my letter right this moment is to supply readability and extra particulars, based mostly on the sum of feedback. This suggestions is captured underneath the next 4 sub-headings:
I take duty for all my selections
Editor, many of the feedback I’ve acquired, sought to recommend that blame was positioned on others for the choices taken by me. I want to make it very clear that I used to be absolutely conscious of my medical scenario after I agreed to my work obligations, whether or not it was serving on a board or working in a full-time capability. Since I used to be a young person, I used to be all the time captivated with serving my nation and did so with out concern or favour, regardless of my medical situation and different challenges. I used to be by no means pressured by former Presidents HE Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, HE Mr. Donald Ramotar nor the previous Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon to just accept an project. Sure, Dr. Jagdeo could have persuaded me proceed to serve Guyana, largely due to my admiration for his work and the obligation I felt to serve the folks of Guyana. I additionally want to add that these leaders, different senior officers within the PPP administration and members of the primary opposition had been all the time involved about my situation and, in lots of cases, appealed to me to hunt additional therapy. Nevertheless, I felt that I may have handled my well being situation independently.
Additional, I want to make clear the next line mirrored within the article: “I used to be capable of maintain myself away from these vices as a result of I had lots of people who supported me and my habit.” In actuality, a number of individuals who knew of the frequent ache I skilled didn’t agree with my extended use of ache killers. I opted to make use of painkillers with out absolutely understanding the implications of extended use of ache killers as a result of I didn’t wish to have one other surgical procedure. Nevertheless, I did attain out to hospitals in Guyana and abroad for recommendation on different approaches to ache administration and habit restoration. These approaches quickly relieved my ache, nevertheless oftentimes my ache was insufferable, inevitably my dependency on painkillers was extended.
Cost of board stipends
The problem of board charges was raised within the article (associated to my workload serving on a number of board of Administrators (BoD). The article appropriately said that I donated the stipend I acquired whereas serving on GAIBANK’s BoD to a welfare fund to help employees members. It was additional said that I didn’t acquire stipends whereas serving on a number of state boards after GAIBANK was merged. A number of individuals requested that I make clear this concern. It ought to be famous that on my request to the administration of the establishments in query, my stipends had been donated with the precise request that it was used to fund initiatives that instantly benefitted the employees of those establishments. For instance: (1) Within the case of GUYSUCO, my stipend went to the primary union (GAWU) to assist staff who had been injured on the job (whereas it was not requested, the late Comrade Komal Chand offered me with a periodical replace on how these funds had been serving to people of their restoration). (2) Because the chairman of the GNNL my stipend was used to assist employees who had been all for enhancing their capability to operate on the job by finishing quick programs, e.g. For instance, laptop research. (3) At GO-INVEST, a good portion of the remuneration I acquired was donated to the annual end-of-year social occasion and employees growth initiatives. These are only a few examples.
Points raised in relation to GAIBANK
a. Sports activities/Tradition/Academic Membership
After I joined the employees of GAIBANK in 1983, there was a Sports activities Membership the place all employees members had been members of the membership, not solely managers as was inadvertently said within the article. I used to be elected secretary a number of months after my employment. It’s worthwhile, to notice that the structure of this affiliation said that the president’s place have to be held by a member of the administration crew. I quickly realised that whereas the president on the time had superb intentions, he didn’t have the time and drive to radically develop the membership and broaden its providers. I, due to this fact, organised a referendum to vary the structure and was quickly after elected president, a place I held till the financial institution was merged with GNCB. The article did point out that our membership emerged as essentially the most recognised among the many banking sector and within the nation.
We had been the main public establishment in a number of sporting actions (instance soccer and dominoes), we organized (as the author highlighted) the primary Interbank Impromptu Talking and Debating Competitors, an Interbank Trend Present and our annual signature occasion underneath the patronage of the President of Guyana (held a number of instances underneath HE President Desmond Hoyte and as soon as underneath HE President Cheddi Jagan). This was the night of classical music (Western, Indian and African music) that attracted giant sections of the diplomatic group and senior officers from the personal and public sectors. This membership contributed considerably to the excessive stage of comradery and unity that existed at this establishment.
b. Increasing on the severance pay concern (Merger of GAIBANK and GNCB)
Editor, I used to be elected Workers Director in 1988 to characterize the positions of the entire employees (administration and non-management) on the Board of Administrators. I had little interest in being a silent member and was adamant that the positions taken to the board had extensive illustration. I, due to this fact, initiated the formation of a Workers Welfare Affiliation (made up of a representatives of each division). These representatives would supply me with points that employees members would really like the board to handle. I used to be unanimously re-elected at each subsequent election. It was a privilege and my duty to make sure that employees members obtained the very best severance pay package deal when the financial institution was merged in 2005. I want to make clear that I approached the then Finance Minister Mr. Asgar Ally to supply me with a letter stating that as Minister he supported the board’s determination to approving the severance pay package deal introduced on behalf of the employees. The Minister was faraway from this place two days after this letter was granted. Based mostly on data I used to be aware of, as a member of the board, I might say with out concern of contradiction that the letter prevented a scenario whereby this settlement would have been rendered null and void thus ensuing within the employees being pressured to just accept a much less advantageous package deal.
Editor, I want to thanks for this chance to make clear the problems highlighted above, and the reporter for highlighting the crucial concern of the dire penalties of opioids. Due to my expertise, I plan to proceed advocating in opposition to the usage of these in any type, for brief or long-term ache administration. I might additionally wish to publicly categorical gratitude to Drs. Jagdeo and Luncheon, Mr. Ramotar and different senior governmental officers for his or her compassion, concern, and counsel throughout a really tough interval of my life. I additionally thank my great employees (of the varied establishments) for his or her kindness and understanding. Lastly, I want to thank all my mates and all of the docs within the personal and public sectors who tried their utmost to assist me overcome this medical scenario. My public appreciation in your efforts lengthy overdue.
With type regards,
Keith Burrowes