Former Government Minister and Presidential Advisor Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud passed away early Sunday morning at the Georgetown Hospital while undergoing treatment. Persaud had fallen ill early Saturday and was initially taken to the Mercy Hospital but later transferred to the Georgetown Hospital for further tests and assessment at the Caribbean Heart Institute.
Reepu Daman Persaud was one of the longest serving career politicians in Guyana and served as a Member of Parliament for decades before retiring a few years ago. He served as Agriculture Minister then Minister of Parliamentary Affairs under the Peoples Progressive Party Government.
Just last year, as part of a new initiative by Speaker of the National Assembly Rapahel Trotman to honour past Members, Persaud was celebrated and honoured by the Full House for his 41 years of service as a Member of the Parliament of Guyana.
During that ceremony, Home Affairs Minister and long-time PPP member Clement Rohee reflected on Persaud’s contributions to Guyana pointing out that as “the son of a humble indentured immigrant from India, Reepu Daman Persaud made an indelible impact in all the struggles of this country and can be best known as a noble Guyanese son and patriot who has helped to bring our country to where it is”.
APNU Member of Parliament and Historian Dr. Rupert Roopnarine said then that Persaud will always be remembered as a diligent and committed politician and religious leader who loved his country.
President Donald Ramotar at a Special Religious function in 2012 celebrating Persaud’s work said Reepu Daman Persaud “managed to skillfully blend religious and cultural needs to the needs of the whole country and brought it to be part of the general movement that eventually brought freedom to Guyana”
Reepu Daman Persaud formed the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha and worked tirelessly over the years as both a politician, patriot and religious leader according to close friends. In 1996, Persaud received Guyana’s second highest National Award, The Order of Roraima which celebrated his work in the National Assembly for decades. He would later form a Foundation in his name as part of an education drive. Reepu Daman Persaud was 77 years old.
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