Marceline Basdeo

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Marceline Basdeo

I was born on a very special day in our country’s history – Republic Day! I grew up in Leonora, a sugar cane estate in rural Guyana. My early years were confined to school, church and home. However, I was fortunate to visit several interesting places and tourist resorts – Santa Mission, Timberhead, Kwebana, Baracara, Baganara, Shanklands, Ituribisci Lake, Mainstay Lake and the mysterious Blue Lake in Linden. I also visited two islands in the Caribbean, Barbados and Jamaica.

By the age of 16, I was already computer literate and a graduate of the Leonora Secondary School. When I was 21 years old, I graduated from the University of Guyana with a Bachelor of Social Sciences Degree. Presently I am a Level 2 ACCA student.

I have always been active in church – Sunday School student, Sunday School Teacher, Youth President of the church and the West Demerara Parish Youth Council. Together with other youths, we would visit the sick folks in our community and at hospitals, and not only would we pray and exhort them spiritually, but also we would make material contributions.

After I started work and acquired a car, I led a group of youths from our church on a monthly Sunday evening campaign to feed the poor and hungry pavement dwellers in Georgetown.

At school, I learnt to play a little cricket, table tennis and circle tennis. Earlier this year, I stated attending classes in martial arts, swimming, aerobics and ballroom dancing. Very recently I suffered a very unpleasant and traumatic experience at the hands of some kidnappers who also hijacked my car. Nevertheless, through the compassion and mercy of the kidnappers and the fervent and sincere prayers of the people all over Guyana, my life was spared. I feel truly grateful and indebted to the Guyanese public and all who prayed for me