Guyana’s diaspora is part of our national strength

Dear Editor,

Guyana has long had an unusual national reality: a remarkable number of Guyanese — and increasingly their children and grandchildren — live beyond our shores. We understandably speak of this as a loss of human capital. But we are continually reminded that our diaspora should also be understood as an extension of Guyana itself, and an important part of our national strength.

A small but inspiring example played out this week, half a world away, at the World Squash Masters Championships in Perth, Australia.

Richard Chin won the Men’s 55+ world title representing Guyana, while Daniel Ince competed in the Men’s 35+ division. They were Guyana’s two representatives at a championship bringing together hundreds of Masters players from around the world.

Their presence continues a much broader tradition in overseas based Guyanese squash athletes.

Nicolette Fernandes, born in Canada but raised in Guyana, carried the Golden Arrowhead throughout an international professional career and became Guyana’s first World Masters squash champion in 2022, winning another world title in 2024.

But the story extends well beyond these three. Over the generations, names such as Roger and Alex Arjoon, Mary Fung-A-Fat, Shomari Wiltshire, Sunny Seth and many others illustrate the many ways Guyanese have studied, lived or developed abroad while continuing to represent Guyana. And the tradition continues: Roger Arjoon’s daughters, Avery and Alexis, American born to a Guyanese parent, have already won Caribbean junior titles for Guyana, with Alexis contributing to Guyana’s successful defence of the overall Junior Caribbean championship just this year.  Space does not permit acknowledging the many others who form part of this remarkable overseas based Guyanese squash tradition.

There are also generations behind this week’s two representatives.

Daniel’s father, Carl Ince, left British Guiana for England as a teenager, developed his squash expertise abroad and eventually returned home. As Guyana’s national junior coach, he helped develop generations of players and contributed enormously to a period in which Guyana became a Caribbean squash powerhouse.

The late Godfrey Chin himself played squash for Guyana and passed the sport to his sons. Gary Chin became a Caribbean champion. Richard left Guyana, became a four-time All-American at Cornell and subsequently represented the United States internationally for some fifteen years, including at the Pan American Games and several World Championships.

Then, in 2010, Richard chose to represent Guyana again.

He won the Caribbean individual championship that year and continued representing Guyana internationally, including at successive World Masters Championships. He earned bronze in the Men’s 50+ competition in 2022. This week, at 56, he became a World Masters champion.

These are different journeys, but there is a common thread.

Carl Ince left, learned and returned home to teach. Nicolette Fernandes was born abroad, grew up here and carried Guyana around the world. Richard built his adult life abroad, represented his adopted country with distinction, and later chose to wear Guyana’s colours again. Diaspora children and succeeding generations continue the connection.

Squash has quietly demonstrated for decades that migration need not mean disconnection from Guyana.

That lesson extends far beyond sport.

Our national human capital does not end at our borders. It includes Guyanese scientists, educators, entrepreneurs, professionals, artists and sportsmen and women scattered around the world — and increasingly their children and grandchildren.

The challenge is not simply persuading the diaspora to “come home.” It is finding meaningful ways for Guyanese abroad to remain connected, engaged and contributing wherever they live.

This week, one small manifestation of that appeared on a squash draw in Perth. Besides two names — Richard Chin and Daniel Ince — were three letters: GUY.

That is something for Guyanese squash to celebrate. But perhaps it is also something for Guyana to think about.

Yours Faithfully 

Col. Brian Chin