Chairman's Message

Welcome to CAANY’s long-awaited Website. I do hope that this site will serve as a medium for communication with present and past students, staff, and friends of Charlestown Secondary School (CSS). This Organization obtained New York State Not-for-Profit Status in November 2001, but it was established and is functioning since 1989.

The members of the executive body would like to hear from you and encourage your participation in the activities of this organization. We are aware that fellow alumni have lots of creative ideas on how this organization should chart its future course. These ideas along with people to implement them are always welcome. We would like to hear about your talents and hobbies and how you can use them to enhance and improve the organization.

We are presently experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic that commenced in early 2020. Some of you are aware that some of our alumni contracted and even perished from this Virus. The Executive Body of CAANY expresses its deepest condolence and sympathy to their family and friends. Nevertheless, it is my prayer that everyone will stay safe by following the advice from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) continuously.

Because of this unprecedented time we are not staging any in-person events, therefore please visit our website CAANY.org and support our Virtual Events for us to be able to support the students and staff of Charlestown Secondary School (CSS). Your participation and financial support will assist in the development of the students.

God’s Richest Blessings to all!

Leslie E. C. Stewart, P.E.

President

Leslie E. Stewart, P.E.

President

About Caany

Our Mission

Our Directors

Our Mission

Charlestown Alumni Association of New York, Inc (CAANY) is a New York State Non-Profit organization that enhances the academic, social, and cultural development of students of the Charlestown Secondary School (CSS) in Guyana.

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Our History

Our Directors

Our Mission

In 1989, recognizing the economic realities of their homeland and the immense contribution made to their development by Charlestown Government Secondary School (CGSS), and especially by its first Headmaster...

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Our Directors

Our amazing team of regulars and part-time volunteers are committed to helping others. We take our convictions and turn them into action. Think you would be a good fit? Get in touch for more information!

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Brief History of Charlestown Government on this Golden Jubilee (by Malcolm Clarke)

On this very auspicious occasion please permit me to give a brief account of Charlestown Secondary. This school situated at the corner of Howes and Charles Street was established because of the need to cater for secondary education in the South Georgetown area from which children mainly of the somewhat depressed catchment areas of Charlestown, Albouystown and the housing schemes come. Also, it aimed to deal with the overcrowding at Dolphin Government, Saint Stephen’s Presbyterian and Carmel R.C.

The opening ceremony was on 4th October 1965. The then Minister of Education, Mrs Winfred Gaskin, declared that the school intended to be the Queen’s College of the South.

She opined that this institution should be successful. The headmaster was Mr Edgar Mordant Wilson, a brilliant lecturer in English Literature. He was against corporal punishment and promoted lots of plays that were skillfully acted by students.

The late Mr. Peter Stanislaus D’Aguiar, Chairman of Banks DIH played a philanthropic role in the school’s development. As leader of the United Force whose headquarters, Unity House, occupied the building after the students of St. Joseph High School had left. Mr. D’Aguiar sold the building to the government of the day at a nominal price. Hence the first school building carried a history; also, it was there that the Wynn Parry Commission of inquiry into the disturbances of 1962-63 met.

Mr D’Aguiar was instrumental in presenting the newly-created institution an Independence gift of a separate block of buildings consisting of science laboratories, agricultural and technical departments, domestic science rooms, agricultural section, library, head teacher’s office and staff-room. These new blocks were declared open in1967.

Later, as the old building deteriorated, the government demolished it and in its place is a brand new-building with form rooms and a computer science laboratory.

Sadly, there are no local alumni but there is a vibrant overseas which since 1989 has been holding reunions and fun-raising promotions to assist their alma mater. Lots of equipment scholarships to outstanding CXC students and prizes for outstanding performances by students on a form basis have been yearly presented.

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