District Grand Lodge of Guyana
District Grand Master
W. Bro. DOODNAUTH PERSAUD PJGD
Deputy District Grand Master
W Bro MAJ WATSON H F BOWLING PAGDC
Assistant District Grand Master
W. Bro. IVOR E. O’BRIEN MS, PDistSGW
District Grand Secretary
W. Bro. IVOR E. O’BRIEN MS, PDistJGW
District Grand Secretary
R W. Bro. RICHARD B. FIELDS SC
FREEMASONS’ HALL
COMPANY PATH
GEORGETOWN
GUYANA
www.dgl.org.gy Inaugurated on 28 October, 1899
Report
of the District Board of General Purposes to the Annual Communication of
District Grand Lodge of Guyana
Saturday, March 19th, 2011
Since the Half Yearly Communication of September 11th 2010,The Board
met on Thursday December 16th
2010 and on Saturday February 12th
2011.Sub-Committees of Board Members also continued to meet in support of
Lodges and also to deal with administrative matters.
Obituary:
The Board on behalf of all Freemasons in
the constituent lodges of the District regrets the passing to Grand Lodge Above
of W Bro Ewart Neil Malcolm Isaacs, PDist G Supt Wks and PM of Concord Lodge No
3508 and W Bro Jang Bahadur Singh PM of Mount Everest Lodge No 5868 and Klubba
Lodge No 9103.
The Board also regrets the passing of Bro Neville Oscar A Browne RW Dist GM of
Guyana SC and extends condolences to his family and our Brethren of the Dist G
Lodge of Guyana SC.
Freemasons Hall and other Buildings
It is regretted that the prospectus for reconstruction of the Company Path
building has not been completed. This unfortunate circumstance has resulted in a
further delay in the major fundraising effort in support of this project.
However it is readily apparent to all Brethren that major infrastructural work
is very urgently required if this Building is to fulfil its function as the
headquarters of Freemasonry in Guyana.
The Trustees of District Grand Lodge have
set themselves the objective to present to the Board and to the District within
the next 3 months, a comprehensive plan for the layout, design and construction
programme for the envisaged building on this site. It is also anticipated that
the sources of financing will have been identified and a firm date set for
commencement of the programme of work. The Trustees will have to
seriously consider whether the step of identifying temporary alternative
accommodation for Masonic activities currently conducted in this building so
that the reconstruction programme can commence in earnest, should be an
immediate objective. None of this will be possible without the active
involvement of the Lodges of the District and the support of the Brethren. The
Board and Trustees look forward to the ideas and generous contributions of all.
The Board is gratified from the
accounting reports on the $ 2,000,000 grant from the Trust Funds for maintenance
work on the three other Masonic Temples. Both Mount Olive and Ituni Lodges have
made effective use of the funds in supporting their own rehabilitation efforts.
The reports from Kara Kara Lodge also indicated significant progress with the
repairs to that Temple. All recipient Lodges are fully appreciative that these
grants have been made to complement their own fund-raising and physical
involvement.
The Financial position of the District at December 31stt 2010 was
$15,139,297distributed among the various Funds as follows: General Fund- $
791,913, Benevolent Fund - $ 2,740,249. Charity Fund - $ 10,965,703 and Dist G
Chapter $ 641,432. The expenditure on routine administration of the District was
$1,006,795 well within the budget of $ 1,251,000.
All lodges have satisfied their Obligations to United Grand Lodge for 2009. The
Annual Returns for the year ended December 31st 2010 were received
from United Grand Lodge and sent to Lodges. At the time of writing this report,
three Lodges have completed these Returns and submitted their remittances.
Unfortunately, four Lodges
have not fulfilled commitments to
District Grand Lodge for 2009. The indebtedness is $ 316,000.
Three of this group also remain indebted to District Grand for
accumulated arrears of $ 95,000 for
2008, while two Lodges are indebted to the District for United Grand Lodge dues
advance on their behalf for 2008 and 2009. The indebtedness stands at $ 210,015.
There is some evidence that these lodges are making tangible efforts to settle
their indebtedness and to maintain their viability. The Board will continue to
support lodges in this situation in their efforts to find the means to sustain
their existence. .
Other
Matters
The Board congratulates W Bro Bro C N Murray and W Bro A Muneshwer on their
Award of recognition for over 50 years of dedicated service to Freemasonry that
they will be presented by the RW Dist GM this evening. The Board also
congratulates the other Brethren who will also receive formal recognition for
their service to their Lodges and to the District.
The Board continues to work with the District Board of Benevolence towards to
the launching of a Masonic Benevolent/ Charitable Scheme. There has been steady
progress in this regard and the draft of a formal document outlining the
objectives of the scheme is in the final stages of preparation.
This scheme will incorporate ideas from similar schemes established in
the Districts of Jamaica, Trinidad and the Eastern Caribbean. It will be open to
masons from all Jurisdictions.
Concord Lodge (No 3508) has entered its
centenary year and will receive its Centenary Warrant in 2012. The Lodge has
commenced its planning for a programme of events that will lead to a memorable
period. Roraima Lodge (No 3902) will be the next in the District to attain that
distinction in 2019. Union (No 247) and Mt Olive (No 385) Lodges will each also
celebrate the 200th year anniversary of their consecration in 2013
and 2017 respectively. These are all very significant historical events for
Freemasonry in Guyana and the Caribbean. It goes without saying that the
District, through the Board, will provide whatever support that may be required
to the brethren of these Lodges.
Lodges are again reminded that they are required to submit completed
Registration Forms for new members on their Initiation as well as to make
subsequent applications Grand Lodge Certificates as soon as these members have
been Passed and Raised. Although there has been improvement in the registration
of brethren, there are still relatively senior brethren within some Lodges for
whom registration forms are still to be submitted.
I wish thank the Vice President and all members who have served with me on the
District Board during my tenure as President. Their support has been of
particular importance during the recently completed year when circumstance have
forced me to be absent from the jurisdiction for extended periods.
Reading of the Report
It is requested that this Report be read in every Lodge of the District at the
first meeting of the Lodge after the Annual Communication of District Grand
Lodge on the 19th of March 2011 so that every brother may be aware of
its contents. The text of the report will also be posted on the website
Dr Harold B Davis
President,
March 19th 2011