Happy New Year to my fellow Guyanese

Dec 30, 2025 Letters

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Dear Editor,

As the nation bids farewell to 2025, Guyanese both at home and in the Diaspora will waltz to the famous Scottish ballad “Auld Lang Syne” which means for “Old Times Sake.” Composed in 1799, the ballad became a staple at Scottish New Year’s celebrations and later became popular in the United States, Canada, Guyana and the Western world.  While many are hoping that the New Year will be prosperous and peaceful, there are some with a less positive outlook for 2026. Many will make New Year resolutions, but as the norm, most of the resolutions will be quickly forgotten.

It is the belief that New Year resolutions were first made during the reign of the Roman Emperor Caesar and were of a moral nature such as praying, sharing of gifts and being kind to others. But New Year resolutions should not only be about fulfilling a personal wish, it should also help to provide hope and cheerfulness to others, especially the less fortunate in our society. Historically, a new year was observed to commemorate an important phase in the passage of time. It was linked to agricultural cycles, which Ancient Egyptians flooding the Nile River to fertilise the soil to produce abundant food crops for their kingdom. In Thailand the Thais celebrate New Year in April with throwing water, in the hope that it will rain plentifully for their food crops. The Chinese New Year follow a lunar or new moon cycle, so in 2026, it will begin in February.

In the United States, Guyana and the western world, the observance of the New Year on January 1^st can be traced back to the Roman God, Janus, who was portrayed as the guardian of the beginnings and endings with two faces, one looking back to the past and the other towards the future. Perhaps the most important aspect of the New Year is the seriousness with which we as Guyanese view it. It is our hope that 2026 will bring positive changes to their lives and the country, especially with its huge oil resources. It is that time for us to find our purpose in life and in society, carve out our destiny and focus on the positive not only for ourselves but also for the good of the country. It is also a time to empathise with the families and friends who have lost loved ones, those who are bed-ridden, jobless and homeless, victims of vicious crimes, the elderly, and the poor who cannot make ends meet.

It is the wish of many that 2026 would bring renewed hope to all, lift the spirits of those battling depression, alcohol and substance abuse and hopelessness. It should be the beginning of a new era to rebuild and unify the nation, end domestic violence against women and the sexual abuse, molestation and trafficking of children and respect for the rights of all in society, irrespective of their socio-economic status. The New Year should be of tremendous significance for the country and people of Guyana with its massive oil wealth and its 60^th year of independence, which is the heart of the nation’s consciousness, heritage, identity and destiny.

The New Year should be of tremendous significance for the country and its citizens. Indeed, 2025 had its “ups” and “downs” and even though it was a great year for the rich and powerful, yet the less fortunate have found ways to persevere. Today, Guyana is beset by several problems, ranging from crime, high cost of living, homelessness, decrepit roads, traffic congestion, poor road construction and political turmoil, all of which have left many depressed and thinking about the country’s future. However, there were some positive developments in 2025. The people’s confidence in democracy and for a brighter future have been restored and their hope is for the government to embark on the process to unite the races, enrich our core cultural values and improve our modes of behavior in society. As a nation, we must explore and understand our spiritual selves, think positively and be confident and rational and rise above the petty politics of destruction. We must continue to be of service to others and to our country and strive for excellence in the New Year.

The New Year should be the beginning of a new period for Guyana. It should be a year for introspection, healing, cooperation and atonement by all, but especially our leaders, the eradication of crime, poverty, homelessness, the building of a robust economy, and improving the lives of the poor. We must unite and strive for equality and justice for all and accelerate progress towards the realisation of the goal of a better life for all.

We take this opportunity to extend a happy New Year to the government, especially President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the Cabinet, the Opposition, the media outlets, and to all Guyanese near and far. And remember, the best gift for the New Year is honesty and kindness. Happy New Year to my fellow Guyanese.

Sincerely,
Dr. Asquith Rose

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• Asquith Rose, Diaspora, Happy New Year, Letters

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