We have a duty to transform Guyana into a united Nation - President Granger

We have a duty to transform Guyana into a united Nation – President Granger

May 27, 2015 News

By Abena Rockcliffe
Equipped with their umbrellas and other rain gear, thousands of patriots braved

Scenes from 2015 Flag raising

inclement weather yesterday to get a glimpse of the early morning wreath-laying ceremony and hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead at the Independence Arch on Brickdam in the capital city
The event was in observance of Guyana’s 49th Independence anniversary.
This year marked the first time in recent memory that the Independence celebrations were held at the Arch. In previous years the ceremony was held at the National Park and later Parliament Buildings.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and his wife Seeta Nagamootoo arrived yesterday morning ahead of His Excellency, David Granger and his wife, First Lady Sandra Granger.
When President Granger arrived, he was given the Presidential Salute, which was followed by a two -minute silence for those who struggled for Guyana’s Independence.
As he delivered remarks President Granger dubbed the day “a good one” when Guyana celebrates the Independence it gained on 26th May 1966 after 350 years of Dutch and British colonisation.
As he acknowledged the lives and labours of “our heroes” Granger said that it is important to pay homage to those who agitated for decades to achieve national Independence.
“We are their heirs. We have a duty to actualise the vision of our nation’s founding fathers who fought to create the new state. We have a duty to continue the work they started to transform a divided colony into a united Nation.”
Granger noted that Independence was not the work of one person or one party; it was the product of a movement of the Caribbean people. The Head of State said it was a process that took place over a long period of 50 years and workers were the true pioneers.
“It was they who rebelled against British Colonialism first, during the distress after the First and Second World Wars in 1918 and 1945, respectively. During the ‘Labour Rebellion’ of the 1930s, 29 workers were killed and 115 injured throughout the West Indies and British Guiana. We pay homage to the workers for their sacrifice.”
Being the historian he is, President Granger noted that, “Theophilus Lee, the first President of the British Guiana Trades Union Council – BGTUC – a Chinese-Guyanese and a member of the Legislative Council, moved a motion there that led to the establishment of the Waddington Commission which, in turn, led to the introduction of universal adult franchise. This is the same franchise which we exercised 15 days ago. The Commission’s recommendations also led to internal self-government and, finally, Independence. We pay homage to our legislators for their leadership.”
However, the President said that it was the “ordinary people” who bore the brunt of destruction during the ‘Disturbances’ of 1964.
President Granger recalled that the government-of-the-day employed “every devious device – including arson and murder – to delay elections under the proportional representation system. This is much the same system which installed a new government 10 days ago. We pay homage to the more than 176 persons who were reported to have been murdered in that awful year during the struggle for Independence”.
“Independence came in 1966 after decades of distress and distrust. Let us not now dwell on the pain of the past but look with faith to the future. Let the sacrifice of those who struggled and died inspire us today and guide generations to come tomorrow and beyond.
As he zeroed on the prize of gaining Independence, Granger said that it meant change; “Change from colony to nation; from subject to citizen; from subjugation to liberation and from discrimination to dignity and equality.”
Granger recalled the “wise words” of Guyana’s first Prime Minister Forbes Burnham who said: “Independence is a means towards an end. The end must be the changing of our society and the revolutionising of the economy”.
Granger then reminded that change is a never-ending process “and we must not cease. Let us resolve to work together, therefore, to change our society into one of greater equality. Let us strive to change our economy into one of greater prosperity.”