HOWARD JAGROO
Howard can be described as a man of many parts. His voracious reading habits and inquisitive mind from an early age gave him a firm grounding in the Sciences, Literature, Technology, Politics, Economics and Biographies of famous people. It is not surprising therefore to know that he had a varied and challenging career from Guyana to Canada twinned with involvement in Community Youth Activities.
He was one of seven and hailed from Stanleytown, Berbice. He attended Berbice Educational Institute, graduating in 1970. From 1970-1974, he prepared Secondary students at Cumberland Anglican and Transfiguration Lutheran School for the College of Preceptors Exams in Maths, Science, History and Literature. Even more noteworthy was his involvement in the Lutheran League for Youth, organizing debates and sports activities and eventually becoming the Vice President of the Guyana Youth Council. He also aligned himself as an activist in the Youth Social Movement and the People’s Youth Organisation, a youth arm of the PNC/PPP.
His ambition was to be a businessman. He chose the field of Accounting when he enrolled in Seneca College, Toronto in 1974. However, he quickly realized that this field of work was too narrow a focus for a person so vitally interested in a socially stimulating environment. He switched his major to Business Administration and was ready for work in 1977. Despite his success in gaining experience in a variety of jobs in various businesses, his ambitions and earning potential were not being met.
Ever flexible, he returned to his studies in 1979-1981, completing a course in CNC Programming at Humber College. These were the early days of Computer-aided Machine Tool Technology. In 1981, therefore, he had no difficulty securing challenging and stimulating employment for over twenty years with the US company, Litton Systems/Northrup Grumman, a large facility in Rexdale. Howard worked on laser guidance systems used on F1 Jet Fighters, Cruise Missiles, Battleships and Commercial Airlines. All his knowledge in the Sciences and Mathematics, in particular, Geometry and Chemistry, came into play. As he tells it, angles had to be accurate to a millionth of an inch for the US Airforce fighter jets. These guidance systems were used during the first US invasion of Iraq with deadly precision. During his career there, he was promoted to the position of Supervisor of seventy persons, in charge of schedules, materials, and liaison with the Engineering Section in California.
After 9/11, the US Government moved the facility to Woodland Hills, California for security reasons, the Canadian subsidiary eventually closing in 2003. Howard, disillusioned by the use of these war machines during the Iraq War, opted not to accept the offer to relocate, preferring to have his family anchored in Toronto. An offer made by Howard and some co-investors to buy the equipment for commercial uses was refused. [The company was prepared to sell the same equipment for a penny on the dollar value.] Nonetheless, he enjoyed a two-year sabbatical and spent time travelling, the bonus of those years at Litton Systems.
New employment opportunities followed in Apotex Inc., in 2005, using all his past grounding in Mechanics and Chemistry in the manufacture of no-name generic capsules and tablets. It was challenging work, requiring precision in the use of very delicate equipment. Unfortunately, this new environment working with extremely dangerous chemicals posed health risks, forcing an early retirement from the job after five years. Howard is now completing his work career at Canada Post.
