Hailed for the integral role he played in the formation of Guyana’s Private Sector Commission (PSC), David Yankana was yesterday remembered by his former colleagues and friends following the announcement of his death on Wednesday at his home in the United States. He was 91.
Yankana had for many years headed the employers association, the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry.
Yankana had left Guyana years ago after retiring from active private sector life. His passing saw tributes pour in from former President Donald Ramotar and PSC executives.
“He had a distinguished career in the private sector. He was pioneer in creating some of the private sector organizations that we still have today. Yankana made an important contribution to our country, and started that during a difficult time; during the undemocratic period of our country when the conditions were not favourable. The private sector then was very small and there was no commission but he nurtured it, and it is why today we have such a vibrant sector; stronger private sector,” Ramotar told Stabroek News.
He was remembered by his longtime friend and colleague Manniram Prashad as “the consummate gentleman” and one who “did not mind doing all the hard work.”
“It is with profound sadness that I learnt of the passing of David Yankana. His stewardship at the PSC laid the foundation for a vibrant private sector organization. He was a friend and close private sector colleague,” Prashad reflected.
“He was a champion of and for the PSC. A strong disciplinarian and stickler to principles. If he felt the Chairperson and executives were going one way and violating any principles, he objected and would call it out. David was never afraid to tell how he felt or share his wealth of experience. I have learned so much from him,” he added.
Prashad said that it was Yankana who kept pressing for the PSC to be formed and when the organisation was formed and they had introduced corporate membership. He welcomed the move because he believed that the sectoral membership could not carry the organisation. “He was the face of the PSC both locally and internationally and he made sure our PSC was represented both locally and internationally,” Prashad said, adding, “We will miss him tremendously.”
Former Chairman of the PSC Gerry Gouveia echoed most of what Prashad said as he paid homage to a man he believes was “the wisdom and guidance behind the PSC.” “He was a real stalwart. It is very sad that we have lost him.”
Gouveia said that a lot of his understanding of the PSC came from Yankana and he will always be remembered for the role he played in his life. “He was a tower of strength and wisdom; a beacon of knowledge and wisdom,” he said.
Local businessman and former Chairperson of the PSC Eddie Boyer lauded the works done by Yankana for the private sector.
“I met him way back in the 1990s and he was always willing to offer advice and there to help and try to arbitrate whenever something came up. He offered his assistance to businesses and shared his knowledge as an arbiter. The man was versed in the understanding of the labour laws and he helped to teach that to us,” Boyer noted.
According to Boyer, Yankana served as the Executive Director of the PSC when he was its treasurer in 2003 and 2004, and he expressed his gratitude for the guidance he received from Yankana. “David was very cooperative and a stalwart in business. Someone you can always learn something from. I think there is a lot of us that understand the need for a PSC through him,” Boyer said.
According to Boyer, executives of the PSC has always hoped that Yankana would return, if not to offer more expertise but to see how the body had blossomed.
