Await the elections declaration - Pres David Granger

Await the elections declaration – Pres David Granger

May 26, 2020 News

As Guyana observes its 54th Independence Anniversary today, the incumbent President, David Granger, in his address, has urged citizens to await the declaration of the results of the elections. There have been questions whether the Coalition would accept the declarations of the recount, which enters its 20th day of a scheduled 25 today.

The Independence celebrations have been whittled down to one which has barred the public from attending the flag-raising ceremonies. Granger, in his address, asked the country to observe the 54th Anniversary of Independence in a restrained manner.

President David Granger

“The emergency measures imposed in response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have not permitted public celebrations. I urge you, also, to await the declaration of the results of the General and Regional Elections, which were held on 2nd March. The Elections Commission, which is the sole authority charged with administering the elections in accordance with our Constitution, has responded in an orderly and lawful manner to the challenges which have arisen,” he said.

He pointed to his much-touted ‘Decade of Development’ plan for country which he said will be the most exciting and exhilarating era in the nation’s history.

“We remember the militancy of the workers who were shot by the colonial police in the Ruimveldt Riots of 1905, an incident which led to the formation of our first trade union and the start of the labour movement. We recall that workers’ rebellions, which erupted throughout the British West Indies in succeeding decades, forced the Imperial Government to ameliorate living and working conditions. Britain’s response initiated a constitutional revolution and, eventually, led to Independence for its Caribbean colonies. British Guiana, as part of the labour movement and the Independence movement, achieved its Independence on 26th May 1966.”

The president, who faces a one-term tenure if the recount proves that the Coalition lost, disclosed that Guyana, as a Sovereign State, established diplomatic relations with scores of other states on the principles of mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, respect for treaties and international law and the rejection of the use of force to settle international disputes, among others.

He said that workers and persons in difficult circumstances have started to benefit from increased wages and pensions, improved public services in the four new regional capital towns, improved education, more employment opportunities and enhanced empowerment through regular local government elections.

“Guyanese can look forward to enjoying greater equality and a higher quality of life in an expanding economy over the next decade. We have become a ‘petroleum state’ in which the proceeds from the petroleum industry will contribute to transforming the economy. We are on a path towards becoming a ‘green state’ which will promote the preservation and protection of our environment and the adoption of renewable energy technologies.”

Granger also touted his ‘digital state’, which entailed extending the use of information and communication technology to ensure connectivity in every region.

“We are on a path towards becoming an ‘education nation’, aiming at universal primary and secondary schooling and free education at the University of Guyana.”