Across the world, thousands of members of St. John give their time for the benefit of others. They respond to major emergencies, and teach others skills to save lives. For 80 years, Guyana has been benefiting from these life-saving programmes.
St. John Association of Guyana was established in Guyana in 1933 under the leadership of the late Dr L H Wharton; the Brigade, which is the paramilitary and reserve arm, was established in 1952, with Sir Frank Holder as the commissioner.
The first official headquarters of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade in Guyana was formally declared opened Nov 15, 1952 and blessed by then Archbishop of the West Indies, most Rev. Alan John Knight. This was a building formally occupied by Queen’s College.
In those years, one could have noted that at cycle races and at every big sporting or other event in British Guiana at the time, there were men and women in black and white uniforms, bearing the familiar 8-pointed cross, ready to give immediate first aid to anyone injured or unwell.
St. John had attracted a large membership; many of the young people used the organisation as a stepping stone to formal nursing education. Volunteers who dedicated much time to the cause of St. John, gave service in all the offices of the Brigade. Members volunteered their service at hospitals, especially at the emergency departments. During any strike at the public hospital, St. John’s members could have been seen helping the incapacitated on the wards.
There came a period however, when St. John experienced several problems ranging from a failure to attract new members and recruit, to the resignations and emigration of council and brigade members.
Being a branch of the London Council, the international department at the Order of St. John London headed by the director of overseas relations (which provides a channel of communication through the Director of the International Department with the Chairman of Councils and the executives in matters concerning the Order and St. John Ambulance affairs) recognised the difficulties in Guyana and recommended that technical assistance be given.
In May 1992, St. John was the vibrant force it once was. There were a resuscitation and extension of the vandalised Brigade headquarters, the provision of an ambulance service, and the establishment of a day centre for the elderly. Within a year it boasted six divisions, a cadet scheme in three secondary schools with 78 students enrolled, and the Golden Years Club, a care community initiative for persons above 65 years.
The Sovereign Head of the Order of St. John is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the patron is H.E. President of Guyana Donald Ramotar, and the vice-president, as always, is the British High Commissioner to Guyana who in turn represents the Queen of England.
