THE inauguration of His Excellency, Mr David Granger as the 8th Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana took place yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara amidst much fanfare and joyous celebration. The response was phenomenal, as thousands braved the inclement weather to record a presence at the event.
The Guyana Chronicle invited comments from citizens on hand on how they felt about Brigadier David Granger’s ascension to the presidency, and his inauguration. Some of the comments follow:

INGRID LAWRENCE, retired policewoman:
“I feel happy, I feel nice, I feel great; and I tell myself that this president is going to free up back Guyana. He’s started already to make Guyana how it was back in (President) Burnham’s time, because many of the small children didn’t know about the Independence Arch. The arch was hidden away with a lot of leaves, and vagrants used to go there and hang out. It was really surprising to me when I passed there last week and saw the arch nicely cleaned up. Now you can see the beauty of it, and I tell myself this president is going to make Guyana come back as how it was.
“Mr. Granger is a man with a vision for the development of Guyana. May God continue to bless and inspire him.”

KIMBERLY WILSON, self-employed:
“I had to be here this afternoon, because I feel very proud that President Granger is being inaugurated as Executive President of Guyana. We are indeed happy, because we know that there will be a change in Guyana and things would be better; old age pensioners would get more money at the end of the month, and that would be so good.
“As for the inauguration this afternoon, this is massive; I have never seen so many people come to the stadium since it is here; and what is noteworthy is that the programme was well conducted and the people, regardless of ethnicity, all came together and interacted with love and harmony. Long live Mr. Granger! Long live Guyana!”

DWAYNE BRISTOL, manager:
“There’s a wind of change blowing through the land, and once again Guyanese feel the need to be patriotic in this country. There are so many wrongs that we honestly feel will be corrected now. For the average law-abiding person, there was no kind of justice, no kind of upward mobility under the previous administration. They were only out to please themselves and their friends.
“Well, we finally have a government elected by the people (and) that is for the people. You don’t feel the need to migrate anymore. That’s the way I feel about it.”

ARIADNE SEAFORTH, teacher:
“Congratulations to President David Granger! We can only see him as a man sent by God to rule over this nation. With his qualifications and experience, I think this country has a far way to go. I must also congratulate him on his choice of an Education Minister in the person of Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine. That’s a very good man for that position.
“As for the president’s inauguration, the programme was well planned and executed, and Guyanese from all walks of life were able to come, witness it, and join him in celebration.”

MELISSA DE MENDONCA, housewife:
“As I was saying earlier, I have never seen the stadium this full; it was full to capacity and spilling over. People were standing in the stands and outside the stands as well. It’s just great. And look at the leadership of the coalition party and the way the two leaders are living and conducting the business of the coalition! It is evident that Guyana has matured and understands the concept of national unity.”

NADINE WAYNE, hotel manager:
“Personally, I am proud; I now have a renewed sense of what it means to be Guyanese. I can now proudly say that I am Guyanese, and not shy away from the fact that I am Guyanese. Being here today, I can say that I like the atmosphere, the camaraderie and the oneness. I’ve come to several shows here and cricket, and I have never seen this many persons, despite the fact that we had so much rain.
“My mother came from Corentyne, Berbice, and I think the entire village is here. My mother was here at 09:00 hrs, and she is somebody you would not get out of her home, regardless. So that alone can tell you what this occasion means for me, my generation that’s coming, and the persons who have seen it before and those others seeing it now before they pass on.”

EWART SAMPSON, manager:
“What does this mean for me? Change for the better! I believe that His Excellency President David Granger definitely provides this country, myself, family, all of us in Guyana, with a change. We can now have new hope. Our children’s future, I believe, now has hope, and I do look forward to (seeing) the change promised by the current government.”

RONDEL DAVID, gold miner:
“I feel that President David Granger is doing very well. During election time, he went into the villages and found out about the people’s needs, and showed us how life would improve once his government gets into power. Well, now is our time to look forward with hope, because we know he is a man to his word.”

CLAIRMONTE DAVID, Medic/photographer:
“I am heartened. What I’m seeing here today is so overwhelming I’m experiencing goose pimples. I feel the response to the President’s inauguration is phenomenal. In years, I haven’t seen so many persons in one place… I haven’t seen so many satisfied faces (in years), and with all races coming together in this area, it pleases me.
“As you walk about, you sense a pleasant atmosphere. You accidentally jam a person, and they don’t react harshly; they just look at you and smile. Long time you hadn’t that, but now everybody is feeling relieved.
“I’d like to thank Mr. Granger for taking up this position to lead us onward and to be the anchorman who would take us out of the distress we’ve seen for years.”

VICKASH PERSAUD:
“I want to congratulate the new president on his inauguration today. We are happy for this change, because young people can now look forward to getting jobs. They say that young people are our future, but how can this be when they don’t have jobs? We are looking forward to jobs for young people.
“I came all the way from Berbice with three other friends. We never came here before, but we had to come because we know that, with the new president, there is hope for the young people.”

MAURICE FERNANDES, pensioner:
“The inauguration? I came through the rain just for it, and I enjoy every ounce of it, especially the President’s speech. The military parade, the fireworks and everything was well planned and executed; it was truly a joy to behold.
“I feel that Mr. Granger is the right man for this country, and that it should have happened before. We voted for a good president, and I know that there will be no regrets.”

VERNIE JOSEPH, student:
“God bless President Granger! It’s like a bright star has come over Guyana, and the air is fresh and clean. I think that this was an amazing event. Even though I got here a bit late on account of the heavy rainfall, I can say that, since I am here, I have enjoyed every moment of it.”

ANDREA KING:
“My little sister is here to dance with the National School of Dance, and I am here to support her.
“I also wanted to be here, and I feel very pleased with what I see here today, the oneness of the people and it makes me feel very proud right now to be a Guyanese, because it shows that we are a people of deep patriotic roots and we know where we came from and where we are heading.
King was present with her family yesterday and was very excited.”

KEIFA SMALL said it was his first time at such an event, and it was very refreshing for him, since he loved the vibes of the people, and was very happy to see Guyanese bonded as one yesterday. He is hoping that with this new administration we remain together.
He added that it is time for us to unite and put aside our differences as a nation and move forward to build our country, so that our lives could be enhanced.

ANDREW VANFIELD told this publication that in more than 20 years, he has never seen an event of such magnitude at the Stadium, and he is very happy to be a part of the event.
He was very upbeat and excited, seeing so many people packed into one place to celebrate, and it was a feeling of happiness for him, since he saw how happy people were to be there.

MARTIN GAUL said he was very proud to be there yesterday to see Guyanese united from all walks of life in support of President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and the Cabinet of the APNU+AFC coalition.
He stated that people did not care about the rain, but made sure they were there. He however noted that the place was not big enough to accommodate the very large gathering which consisted of men, women, youths and children.

LLOYD HARMON told the Guyana Chronicle that the ceremony was well arranged and the activities were perfect; and that even though it rained a lot, that did not dampen the spirit of the people as they showed up to lend their support to the new government.
He noted that it is indeed a gathering of a united people who were celebrating and he felt very elated, since he had never seen such an event here in Guyana.

MARISKA CORBIN and AHAVIYAH ADAMS, students of the National School of Dance who performed during the cultural presentation of the ceremony, said they were very happy to be there and despite the rain, they felt very proud to be participants in the event.
The teens said they have never seen so many people gathered at one place, especially at the Guyana National Stadium and it is a sight that will remain with them for a long time.

DR. MEENA PERSAUD, who is here in Guyana especially for the event, said she is here to support the coalition and most of all her uncle, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and as an overseas- based Guyanese she wanted to be a part of the ceremony.
She told this publication that she is very excited and has never before seen Guyanese so happy; one could actually feel it,she said.
Persaud,who described herself as a Goodwill Ambassador from New York, and who is also a pastor,said she is here to establish a centre for children and the elderly and to lend her expertise and support to the new government, not just because of her uncle, but as a Guyanese.

DERWIN EASTMAN felt the atmosphere was one of togetherness, and that it only goes to show that we have always been a people of unity, but this occasion really cemented that aspect and that makes him very proud to be a Guyanese.
Eastman was pleased to be associated with the ceremony, even though he was soaked from head to toe because of the rain and was also on duty securing the perimeter of the stadium yesterday.

For RAWLE AARON, the atmosphere was one of enlightenment, indeed inclusion, and the stadium came alive like never before.
“For me, it was very electrifying, since it was one of the largest political gatherings to converge at the stadium and it speaks a lot of society as it relates to what is to come.”
He added, “I believe that the gathering was one of a serious geographical spread with people coming from the 10 administrative regions, but we did not have an ethnic inclusion at the event yesterday. It was sad for me and before the inauguration President David Granger has sent out an invitation for the Opposition to attend that massive celebration and there wasn’t an ethic inclusion. Indians are about 40% or 45% of the races in Guyana and they were not adequately represented at the stadium yesterday.”
Aaron explained that although it rained a lot, that did not affect the Guyanese people and in fact it is a birth of new era and he is looking forward for a continued emphasis on development and enlightened independence in this country.

By Shirley Thomas and Michel Outridge