“Children of Guyana, know your history” – PM Nagamootoo
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjEhesvaRH8″ width=”100%” height=”315″]
– “Our young people must be given every opportunity to show-case their nationalism”
– “Being independent has made Guyana a member of the world community of freed and democratic nations”
By Rebecca Ganesh
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, May 23, 2019
“Our rich cultural and ethnic diversity must inspire us and not divide us, our independence anniversary is a symbolic time to remember this, where every Guyanese has a voice including and in particular, Guyana’s children.”
This was Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo’s charge to the children of Guyana.
During his feature address at the Rights of the Child Commission’s (RCC) Child Rights and Independence Workshop held at Pegasus Hotel Guyana, Prime Minister Nagamootoo stressed the need for the children of Guyana to know their history, especially how the country fought to achieve its independence.
Prime Minister Nagamootoo said, “I must commend the Rights of the Child Commission, a Constitutional Commission tasked with safeguarding the rights of our youngest Guyanese, for organising the Independence workshop.”
This year’s Independence observance, Prime Minister related, will put our young people up-front. Students will raise the National Flag at Sunday’s (May 26) solemn ceremony at the D’Urban Park.
“The main reason for this is that our young people must be given every opportunity to showcase their nationalism, their love of country, as Guyanese… Our young Guyanese citizens will demonstrate their loyalty to the country and their love for fellow citizens, which our National Pledge commands us to do. They must become the exemplars of patriotism that is contemplated in Article 7 of our Constitution, which states: “It is the duty of every citizen of Guyana wherever he or she may be and of every person in Guyana to respect the national flag, the coat of arms, the national anthem, the national pledge and the Constitution of Guyana.”
According to the Prime Minister, the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana contains a range of provisions for the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual; “the child being recognised as an individual of no less importance than any other Guyanese.” He noted too that the right to education and freedom from discrimination are critical protections offered by the Guyana Constitution.
This is the 4th workshop commemorating our independence, Aleema Nasir, Chairperson of the RCC explained. There are three core areas that the commission focuses on; protection, education and empowerment.
The RCC partners with all stakeholders to rid our society of abuse and neglect of our children. “This workshop will seek to stimulate a discussion on the history and significance of our independence. It will seek to demonstrate that independence must mean and translate to the development and advancement of our nation,” Nasir noted.
Expressing her sincere appreciation for the work the RCC is doing across Guyana, especially within the hinterland region, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe noted that sensitisation of child rights to our children is of utmost importance.
“Our children are precious to us, and we, therefore, have an obligation towards them to teach them well, educate them, nurture them, protect them and to sensitise them.”
Students and teachers from schools within and around Georgetown and RCC’s Youth Ambassadors also attended this annual workshop.
Images: Marceano Narine.