CELEBRATING the 45th anniversary of any event is a significant achievement, much more the meteoric rise to the status of a Republic after years of being considered a mere colony. In the words of President Donald Ramotar, “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.”

The following is the full text of his message sent the nation on this important milestone in our history:

“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, on 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 45th 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.”