Republic Anniversary Messages

Feb 23, 2015 News

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His Excellency Donald Ramotar

Inspired by a vision of a united, just, democratic, and prosperous society, Guyana threw off the yoke of British colonialism in 1966 and just four years later, in February 23, 1970, elevated our status to that of a Republic.  Today, forty-five years on, Guyanese of every walk of life, in every village in every region have come together to celebrate this historic milestone.
As we celebrate our Republic, we first of all recall and salute the heroism, the sacrifices and the selflessness of our people who made it possible for all of us to live in this strong and vibrant democracy.
We remember and salute our brothers and sisters all across the country and our friends across the world, whose solidarity made it possible for us to defeat colonialism and establish this Republic.
All of them, through their determined struggles, ensured that Guyanese today, more than at any time before, enjoy the right of living in a just, united and prosperous country.
Accordingly, as a nation, we renew, on this historic day, our pledge to build a better life for all, working closely with all sectors of our society. As we renew our pledge on this the forty fifth anniversary of our Republic, we also take pride in, and celebrate, the progress we have made since 1970 and more so since 1992 towards a better life for all and a more united society. We renew our pledge knowing that today is better than yesterday and tomorrow will bring even more joy than today.
As we renew this pledge, our people are conscious of the fact that, as their community gets clean water, electricity, health centres and proper roads, as many move from informal to formal housing,  their turn will surely come as day follows night. This they know, because they have seen the determined efforts of this democratically elected government since 1992, to ensure a better life for all.
Indeed, working together, we have helped to restore the dignity of all Guyanese through the broadening access to basic services previously denied to them; in opening the doors to education; the economic opportunities that have been created and in the gathering pace of our country’s economic growth that creates the resources for further advances in improving the lives of all our communities.
Our policies and our programmes are all based on the quest for a just society in which individuals and communities are free to practice their beliefs, their traditions and their cultures without fear.
As we rededicate ourselves to building a better life for all, we are conscious that some of the legacies of the past continue to disfigure our nation in the present; that we have not wholly removed the cancer of poverty from our society; that we have only moved slowly towards building a truly egalitarian society; that we still have challenges to overcome.
As we renew our pledge for a better life for all, we need to work together. I therefore call on all Guyanese, from all stations of life to rededicate ourselves and work together on the big challenges facing our country so that  as today is better than yesterday, tomorrow must be better than today for all the people of our country.
Fellow Guyanese, we need to dedicate ourselves to the building of a socially cohesive nation, always working to create a common identity as Guyanese, united in diversity, bound together by the same vision of creating a harmonious society based on truly universal values.
Mashramani is an important signpost in our national life. It symbolises the dawn of freedom and democracy. It represents a call to sustain the national effort that brought about freedom, which is critical in consolidating our democracy and promoting national unity. It calls on all Guyanese to unite and defeat poverty and underdevelopment. It calls on all of us to work together for a better future.  Let us therefore renew our pledge to build a better life for all.
Wherever you are, at home or abroad, I wish you a happy Mashramani.
A Happy 45th Republic Anniversary.

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People’s National Congress Reform

The People’s National Congress Reform is pleased to extend greetings and good wishes to all of the people of Guyana as we celebrate the 45th Anniversary of our Republican status.
The anniversary of the Republic, apart from the national celebration of Mashramani, is an occasion for reflection and assessment of the state of our nation, 45 years after Guyana was declared a Republic.
In that regard, it must be evident to all that we, as Guyanese, need to undertake a frank and honest evaluation of whether our nation is headed in the direction that would bring us all, particularly our young people, progress and prosperity.
Our Party has joined our partners in A Partnership for National Unity to declare and dedicate our energies to making 2015 the Year of democratic renewal.
However, we are conscious that, as a nation, we are challenged to remove the threats posed by the scourge of criminality and violence; corruption; the continued lawlessness in high places; the intolerance of views, other than those expressed by the Administration; all of which contribute to infusing a sense of despair and the feeling of hopelessness that is currently afflicting the young people of this nation.
This is an Election year and we urge all Guyanese, especially the youth of this nation to vote on Election Day, 11th May 2015.
Accordingly, the PNCR wishes all of the Guyanese people a Happy Republic holiday, and a joyous celebration of Mashramani, as we pray that the spirit of peace, love and unity will dwell among us on the 45th anniversary of our Republic.

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Alliance For Change

As Guyana reflects on forty five years as a Republic, the Alliance For Change joins with all Guyanese in the hope that a spirit of reconciliation and harmony will define our celebrations today.
This Mashramani we recognise that if we begin with a commitment to national unity and inclusivity based on the principles of equality, and work towards a realization of these ideals, will we truly be able to transform this great nation.
We who are blessed with so much beauty and bounty must halt our self-imposed blight.
These 45th Mashramani celebrations take place against the backdrop of pending General and Regional Elections.
At this special time we urge all Guyanese to reflect on our symbols of nationhood and to be thoughtful and introspective of that journey which has brought us here. We must learn from the lessons each passing year has taught us.
The Alliance For Change regrets that our most supreme symbols of nationhood, our Republican Constitution and our Parliament, have been under severe threat recently. But we take strength in the fact that change is around the corner and will soon be here.
Towards that final drive, the AFC commits to a campaign that is free from racial intolerance and verbal abuse and the forging of a new Guyana where all will be respected for who they are and what they stand for, so that all of us will benefit from this beauty and bounty.
Though we are a land of various peoples and cultures our diversity is our greatest strength. May the values we as Guyanese hold dear unite us ýall to a lasting peace and happiness.Happy Mashramani Guyana!

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Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union

This message is being communicated within a multi-faceted context. Primarily, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) wishes to extend its warmest congratulations to the State, government and people of Guyana on the occasion of the forty-fifty anniversary of Republicanism – the actual date being Monday, February 23, 2015 Republic Day.
GAWU is also acutely aware that the country is also in the vital preparatory mode for General and Regional elections in the Independence month of May – a little over two months away.
That expression of our democracy, coming virtually two years before its constitutionally preferred, speaks to the 45-year old Republic’s credentials as a democracy, preserved through all attendant sabotage, political and constitutional challenges and doses of economic hardship.
So amidst the Republic’s Anniversary observances – including the artistic, cultural, entertaining Mashramani celebrations – Guyanese will consider political choices; will grapple with consistent, conflicting and aggressive messages and appeals by old and new politicians. As a people our will must be expressed according to our ultimate choices.
GAWU takes this opportunity to remind the nation, especially those youthful citizens under forty, that four years after the 1966 Independence, there was again political consensus among our major parties and groups that we should become a Republic within the Commonwealth in February, 1970.
Our major political leaders agreed that our Independence should be solidified and given the patriotic, nationalistic status of a Republic.
That ushered in a Presidency, added governmental responsibilities and later a new Constitution.
The years 1970 to 2015 were not without setbacks but also tremendous progress from the standpoint during the colonial era.
Many will argue that 1992 onwards re-introduced a new era of democracy and development.
GAWU will urge serious introspection and assessment at this time. As a union GAWU uses workers’ quality of life from by-gone periods to the present as a yardstick of personal and collective measurement.
GAWU members, workers and all Guyanese are hereby urged to celebrate the Republic’s forty-fifth to your fullest or modest extent, all the whole considering your country’s choices for the continuing development of our country and a progressive future beyond May 11, 2015.
The future then is in our hands.
A Happy Reflective Mashramani 2015.

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Statement by US Secretary John Kerry

On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I congratulate the people of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana as you celebrate 45 years of independence on February 23.
Your nation will hold national elections this year.  I am confident that it will serve as an example of the peaceful exercise of the right to vote.  Your actions will strengthen the entire region’s commitment to democratic institutions.
Guyana participates positively in the region through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, the Caribbean Community, and the Union of South American Nations.  The United States stands with you as a partner and friend in the Inter-American System and in continuing to strengthen and revitalize the Organization of American States.
We will continue to work together to achieve energy and environmental sustainability, as agreed upon during the recent Caribbean Energy Security Summit.
I wish you all a joyful Mashramani and Guyanese Republic Day.

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The Independent Party

The Independent Party (IP) extends warmest Mashramani Greetings to every Guyanese at home and across the diaspora.
As we come together to celebrate our 45th anniversary milestone , let us allow this spirit of togetherness not to be restricted to an occasion or day, only, but instead strive as a nation to bridge the polarization gap that sometimes seekS to divide us.
Let us truly embody our theme for Mashramani 2015 “One People with One Celebration”.
HAPPY MASHRAMANI GUYANA FROM THE INDEPENDENT PARTY.

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FITUG

February was chosen as the month to usher in Guyana’s Republican status, 45 years ago, for one major reason.
It was in February, 1763, on Plantation Magdalenenburg, Canje, Berbice, that the ill-treated, long-suffering and angry African slaves began a momentous rebellion against their unconscionable Dutch tormentors.
The Kofi-led revolutions spread throughout Berbice in a structured militaristic manner before its successes were compromised, and defeated after nearly one year. Guyana’s spirit of rebellion against the evils of domination, racism, slavery, exploitation and colonialism was lit long before others in these parts.
FITUG – the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana – therefore and foremost, salutes the Spirit of 1763 as we celebrate the 45th Anniversary of our Republicanism.
That status itself was meant to reinforce our four year Independence by fashioning our government, our constitution and Parliament in our own context and image, justifiably relinquishing the colonial oriented monarchy.
FITUG wishes our nation a happy and a peaceful, joyous Mashramani – the entertaining creative celebration after work and achievement.
Forty-five years of a nation’s life is a reasonable period to use for assessment. What have we – our leaders and ourselves – done with Republic’s forty-five (45) years? Is the Republic where we – old and young – want it to be? Are FITUG’s thousands of workers enjoying a quality of life they deserve?
These questions at the Republic’s milestone posed within the most interesting context of preparations for elections in a few weeks’ time. What better time for reflection within which to make choices once again to install the best we have to manage our resources as they chart the nation’s future.
We the people know what is now there. We know what else we wish and prefer. The choice will soon be ours once again.
May the oneness of the Republic at Mashramani time carry through to Election Day in May. Let peace, democracy and development triumph.
Happy Mashramani.

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