Multi-gifted Toshao excited about future of St Cuthbert’s Mission.

NEWLY-ELECTED TOSHAO OF ST CUTHBERT’S MISSION TIMOTHY ANDREWS
IS MULTI-GIFTED. He is an avid sports enthusiast, ardent community activist, and appetent
religious figure as the son of a pastor.
Toshao Andrews is also a lay musician, playing the guitar, violin and keyboard.
The appellation politician now has to be added his repertoire. Albeit a reluctant one, he admitted
to www.aroundtheregions.com in a recent interview.
“Many persons wanted me to run for Toshao in 2018. I refused because I knew that I wasn’t
ready and felt that I shouldn’t contest for any position if I am not properly ready. I wanted to
give of my best and so I opted to contest for a spot on the Council. When they approached me
this time, I recognised that the time had come for me to step further into community activism and
so I availed myself as I wanted to do more for my fellow villagers not only in enhancing their
lives but creating a better community,” Andrews recalled in the Q&A.
It was former Toshao Lenox Shuman, now a legislator in the Twelfth parliament who spotted
leadership abilities in the usually-reserved Andrews. He recalled Shuman, a pilot by profession,
who mentored him to feel confident soaring in the clouds instead of reveling on the sidelines.
“Shuman urged me to get actively involved in community service (because) he recognised I have
the ability to command followers,” Andrews said during the recent interview.
But Shuman had to be persistent to persuade Andrews, who apparently was stricken with self-
doubt. Eventually, his diffidence collapsed and he who believed he was only fit to be captain of
the Senior Cricket team and a musician in his church’s worship team, accepted the mantle to lead
a larger group of diverse peoples.

Shuman’s “unrelenting encouragement” forced Andrew’s concession and he accepted
nomination for election as a Councillor in 2015. He secured the most votes – with 280 – as an
elected Councillor.
But the community unanimously agreed that the usually well-groomed, respectable and
disciplined role model has much more to offer the predominantly Amerindian community
founded some 200 years ago on the Mahaica River in Region Four, the most populated area
among the 10 Administrative Regions making up Guyana.
They resurrected their dream of Andrews contesting for the post of Toshao with intensified
grooming from Shuman.
“It was Toshao Shuman who took me and a few others under his wing and taught us what (we)
needed to know…and I remain grateful to him,” Andrews admitted.
Doubters heap scorn on Andrews and his past achievements. They expect him to underachieve in
his three-year term because of inexperience.
He reminds us of the Biblical shepherd-boy David who never faced an enemy of the stature of
Goliath, but squared off with a lion and a bear as preparation for the giant. The lion and the bear
were conquered.
Toshao Andrews spots the parallels.
“I was selected to be part of the cricket team from the age of 13and I went on to captain our
under 19 team. I have led by example as many see me as a leader”.
He recalled after excelling at captaincy of the Under 19 team he was promoted to captain of the
village’s Senior Cricket Team which he held being elected as the Toshao.
With all eyes of the village firmly fixed on him, Andrews now has to find novel ways to keep the
community living in sweet harmony and goad them to continue playing as a well-oiled unit.
With his stars finally aligned, Toshao Andrews is fired up to leave his footprints indelibly
in the sands of local history.