…children receive gifts, words of cheer for holidays

‘TWAS’ the night before Christmas and all through the town, everyone was hustling and bustling—trying to get their last-minute shopping done. There was bumper to bumper traffic but the APNU + AFC coalition government feted persons comfortably at the Stabroek Square.

The event could easily be mistaken for a political rally, but this gathering had its underpinnings in the merry season. Earlier on, children received gifts from several of the government ministers present. “We are out here not only because it is Christmas, but we want to touch and feel you,” APNU parliamentarian and Minister of Health, Volda Lawrence said.

She and other ministers and officials from with the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance for Change (AFC) political parties were out in their numbers interacting with citizens on Christmas Eve. “This is Christmas. It is the season of joy, happiness, goodwill and love, and we must show that to our brothers and our sisters and we must speak to children,” she said and later added: “Even as you speak with your families, let them know that we have work to do.”

Following the no-confidence motion brought against the government, many of these persons have become fearful of what the next move is and what new elections might bring. “We want to let you know, that as Bob Marley said: ‘Everything gon be alright’,” Lawrence posited. “We want to say to all of you that we may have been hit, but we gon knock back.”

She urged all citizens to eat their pepperpot, drink their ginger beer and rest assured that the incumbent government has their best interests at heart. “We have many challenges before us and I hope that together we can confront them and try and make life a lot better for you in the year ahead,” Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge also said.

He highlighted that he was happy that the event allowed him to meet with many persons and listen to them air their concerns and spread their best wishes. And he extended best wishes of his own. “I hope that you are looking forward to having an excellent Christmas and a prosperous New Year in the year 2019,” he said.

Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Georgetown: Ubraj Narine and Alfred Mentore also joined with the ministers to share their well wishes. Narine stressed: “Let us work together for a better Guyana and let us work for our society and our communities.” The man of the moment came soon after the ministers and officials gave their wishes and remarks. Oh, but it was not Santa Claus—it was Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo who came to the party clad in his crisp blue suit. And instead of bringing gifts, he brought words of reassurance.

“Christmas gives us hope of a great earth and if we have to go back as a people to have a renewal of our mandate it is part of the renewal of the life of the coalition,” he said. The prime minister assured that the coalition is strong, stable and good for Guyana. “Christmas for us must be the day of liberation; [it is] a feeling of freedom, a feeling that we are reborn and if you have never been a supporter of the coalition—you must feel [on Christmas Day] that you are reborn as a coalition supporter,” he said seriously.