Slater Jeffery, GSA Alumnus of the Month

This month, the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) Alumni Association features Mr. Slater Jeffrey as the November “Alumnus of the Month”. Slater was born in Buxton, but the family later moved to New Amsterdam where he attended the Berbice Educational Institute. Subsequently, thanks to a scholarship sponsored by the Youth Division of the Office of the Prime Minister, he attended GSA (1972 – 74). Upon completion of studies at GSA Mr. Jeffrey went on to work with the Guyana National Service where he was among the first agricultural staff members who pioneered the establishment of the agricultural program at Kimbia, Berbice River. Fast forward to today, and we find Mr. Jeffrey retired, residing in Atlanta, Georgia but regularly returning to Guyana to be actively involved in giving back to his home village of Buxton via voluntary community work. The GSA Alumni Association is proud to recognize the sterling service of this GSA graduate to the community of Buxton/Friendship.

Education and work

After graduating with a Diploma in Agriculture, GSA, in 1974, Slater was promoted to Senior Youth Officer at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and seconded to the Guyana National Service. He remained there until 1977 when he returned to the OPM with responsibility for the agricultural program in the recently established Melanie Damishana housing area. In 1979, he left to commence undergraduate studies at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. As a student, he served as the Chairman of the Special Activities Committee of the university, providing distinguished leadership and service for which he was recognized in 1981, by the International Student Affairs department of Tuskegee. He graduated the following year with a B.Sc. in Economics. He then worked in sales and marketing for a number of years before returning to university in 1995 to pursue a Master of Arts degree at Clark Atlanta University, majoring in Science and Social Studies and Teacher Certification. He completed graduate studies in 1997 and proceeded to gain employment in the public school system of Atlanta Georgia as a Middle School Teacher, teaching science and social studies. He retired from teaching in 2015 and received a certificate from the Atlanta Public Schools system in grateful appreciation for his contribution to the nurturing of students. Today he devotes much of his energy towards community activities primarily among Guyanese in Atlanta and Buxton.

Activities in Atlanta, Georgia

It is in the realm of community development that Slater Jeffrey has made impressive contributions. Given his passion, dedication, and social skills, he has consistently participated in organizing and mobilizing activities. Slater is credited with forming the Guyanese Overseas Action League in 1982 – the first Guyanese association in the state of Georgia. He has consistently been actively involved with the Guyanese Association of Georgia (GAOG) serving as President from 2000 – 2001. He has also served as Chairperson of the Education Committee and the Memebrship Committee of the GAOG on various occasions. He has received certificates of recognition from the GAOG (2000, 2012, 2017) many times in recognition and appreciation of his outstanding contributions and leadership to the organization. Slater Co-Chaired the select committee to approve students in Guyana for GAOG sponsorship of their four-year degree program at the University of Guyana. Given his efforts to advance the association and focus on education, in 2014, he received a Life Membership Award from GAOG. With the support of members of the GAOG Slater Jeffrey has expanded his energies to embrace activities in his home village of Buxton, East Coast Demerara.

Activities in Buxton/Friendship Communities

In the last two years, Slater has been returning to Guyana, multiple times per year to organize community development initiatives in Buxton. His vision is to uplift the community by fostering the establishment, development, and growth of small businesses in the village. Towards this end, he has consulted and collaborated with leading officials of the Diaspora Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce, and the Buxton-Foulis Neighbourhood Democratic Council to help formulate his strategy. He has also enlisted the support of village leaders and thematic specialist professionals to implement the work program.

One of the first initiatives was the training of 25 sheep farmers in husbandry and pasture management over a six-month period by Mr. Errol Luke, Livestock Special, in anticipation of receiving and rearing Barbados Blackbelly sheep.

Another activity, also conducted by Mr. Luke, was training 20 participants in meat cutting and processing (sausage, ham, lard). Dr. Maxine Parris-Aaron led training sessions on labeling and packaging. A commercial band saw, and a meat grinder was purchased, using cash from a fundraiser organized by three Buxtonian members of the GAOG. It is intended these pieces of equipment be used for future training and at the processing center when the business is established.

Yet another initiative was the mobilizing of 25 persons with entrepreneurial interests into the Buxton/Friendship Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Community Development Group. Activities organized by this group include Farmers Market days in Buxton, an exposition, and bus tours to the Mocha Farmers Market Day, GDF Farm, and farms in Belladrum/Paradise to observe best practices. Efforts are being vigorously pursued to have this group legally registered to take advantage of opportunities in the formal sector (e.g., grant funding).

In recognition of these bold and selfless actions, the Guyana School of Agriculture Alumni Association proudly names Mr. Slater Jeffrey as the Alumnus of the Month. The harvests of these initiatives exemplify the values and mission of GSA and are deserving of our support and encouragement.