Granger reaffirms commitment to national unity

GEORGETOWN – As Guyanese celebrated their country’s 49th Independence anniversary yesterday, they also witnessed a historic event, the inauguration ceremony for Guyana’s 8th Executive President David Granger.

In his inauguration speech, the Head of State told the packed Guyana National Stadium that the day should be one of thanksgiving.

“We give thanks for the gift of democracy which we renewed only 15 days ago. I affirm today as President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana my determination to continue the task of working towards achieving national unity, and towards making Guyana one nation.”

In so doing, the Head of State said, he will not be working by himself, but with the largest coalition of political allies that has ever been established in the Republic of Guyana.

“We went into general election as a grand coalition comprising six parties …we won the support of the majority, we can now better work together in an inclusionary manner towards a common destiny.”

He noted that even as the celebration of Independence continues, his administration is more determined to deepen that independence by liberating all people from the threat of one party domination and by thwarting the threat of dictatorship.

These, the Head of State said will be done by protecting the parliament from the threat of premature dissolution and prorogation, and respecting the constitution.

“We have assembled too to acknowledge the democratically expressed will of the people of this great country as expressed in the recent elections. We have assembled to proclaim openly our intention to pursue relentlessly the goal of inclusionary democracy.”

Clearly, President Granger said, Guyanese are recognising the need for national unity as the results from the last two elections spoke for all citizens.

 “The results of the last two elections have made clear that (the) majority of Guyanese yearn for national unity, they desire inclusionary democracy, people increasingly are abandoning the winner takes all approach and are adopting the collective path to building one nation.”

Now that the people of Guyana have spoken and have chosen their representatives, the President said “our constitution has been glorified, our democracy has been fortified, our people are satisfied, we must now look to the future, we must now turn our effort and energy not to destroying one another, but towards defeating the real enemies of our people.”

These enemies he said are crime, disease, ignorance and poverty.

“The Guyanese people have chosen to inaugurate a government of national unity, we are convinced that working together is the best way to overcome our historic division, we are indeed more determined more than ever to re-fashion our society.”

Meanwhile the President also called on Guyanese to at all times pay homage to the workers, the legislators and the ordinary citizens who played a role in Guyana gaining its independence.

“We have a duty to actualise the vision of our founding fathers who fought to bring forth a new state.   We have a duty to continue their work which was to transform a divided country that they inherited into a united nation, but we cannot become a united nation if we are divided.” (PR)