Guyana’s Golden Jubilee; an exciting, encouraging time- President David Granger

DPI, Guyana, Sunday, February 23, 2020.

The celebration of Guyana’s 50th year as a Republic is an opportunity for all citizens to place the country on an irreversible path to greater liberty, unity and prosperity.

This was expressed by His Excellency President David Granger, during his address to the nation in commemoration of Guyana’s Republic Golden Jubilee anniversary.

The Head of State described 2020 and the anniversary an “auspicious” year and event, in the history of the nation and a “propitious moment for future generations!”.

“This Anniversary evokes emotions of pride and patriotism. There is satisfaction over the nation’s progress over the past fifty years and expectation over the prospects for the future,” President Granger related.

The fiftieth year anniversary comes at a time when the government’s “Decade of Development” is preparing to take off. The Head of State said this year is an exciting and encouraging time for Guyanese who can look forward to a higher quality of life in the future.

According to the Guyanese leader, enormous transformation will be seen across sectors.

These include:

• educational achievement, assured by enabling every child to gain access to nursery, primary and secondary school and providing tuition-free education for eligible students at the University of Guyana;
• economic growth, enabled by incentives for agriculture, agro-processing, business, commerce, fishing, manufacturing and mining;
• energy security, strengthened by a robust institutional, legislative and regulatory framework for the management of the petroleum sector and the development of renewable energy sources;
• environmental protection, by preserving our ecosystems and biodiversity and implementing conservation, climate adaptation and mitigation measures;
• constitutional reform, by safeguarding human rights, promoting inclusionary democracy and emphasising broader political consultation;
• governance, by enhancing transparency and integrity in public office; by empowering women and youth and strengthening regional development;
• social cohesion, by ensuring greater respect for each other’s ethnic identities and cultural practices regardless of race, religion and region of residence;
• social protection, by eliminating extreme poverty and strengthening social safety measures for the aged, the homeless, the indigent and disabled;
• human safety, by intensifying law enforcement through action to suppress and reduce crime, protect human life and ensure public security;
• information technology, by establishing ICT centres of excellence in all capital towns to benefit young and enterprising citizens and by placing public services online;
• indigenous peoples’ development, by preserving their cultural identity and according recognition of their knowledge in protecting the environment;
• infrastructural improvement, by extending aerodromes, bridges, highway networks, stellings and ferry services and strengthening coastal sea defences; and
• international relations, by defending our territorial integrity, protecting our sovereignty, strengthening the Caribbean Community and supporting the United Nations’ role in preserving international peace and security.

 

The President continued “we live in a country that is protecting its national patrimony – its coastland, grasslands, highlands, islands, wetlands, lakes, rainforests, rivers and waterfalls. These physical features, together with our magnificent fauna – animals, birds, fish, insects and reptiles – are wonderful natural assets.”

The country’s transition towards a ‘green state’ will place greater emphasis on the preservation of the environment and biodiversity, the promotion of the generation of energy from renewable sources and the implementation of measures for climate mitigation and adaptation.

He said the country continues to enjoy high levels of growth and human development with accountable government and greater equality.

“Ours is one in which everyone will be able to enjoy equality before the law, education that is free, employment that is satisfying and an environment that is safe and healthy,” he declared in his message.

He said while the country has progressed over the past fifty years, it will continue along this path during the Decade ahead. Therefore, Guyana will celebrate its 50th Republic anniversary with a sense of satisfaction.

“I extend best wishes to every Guyanese for a happy Anniversary, one in which we will enjoy the bounty and benefits of the Decade of Development, the most exciting and exhilarating in our nation’s history.”