As he lights up the global stage…
Pro-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Dr Prem Misir, and staff extend congratulations on the conferral of an Honorary Doctorate on President Bharrat Jagdeo by the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. “Since taking office, President Jagdeo metamorphosed the Presidency to new heights where he prominently and perpetually demonstrates the need for conspicuous Presidential and Governmental leadership through attitude and behavior in the face of any crisis,” says Dr Misir.
“President Jagdeo accomplished this feat when he did the right thing in the Great Flood of 2005; a disaster by any standards. The rainfall recorded from January 1 through January 20, 2005 alone was 34.3 inches, breaking all records since 1888. The deepening of that disaster was imminent; but the President’s quick response made a significant difference to assail this enemy; the President’s leadership and take-charge attitude and behaviour penetrated the ‘eye’ of the flood.
“And President Jagdeo, time and again, is on record demanding change in the architecture of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) pertaining to injecting democracy into its decision-making and the need for policies to be reflective of current topical issues.
“One of the hallmarks of the Jagdeo Presidency is the push to consolidate Parliamentary democracy in both form and content. This Government has a built-in public opposition, presents itself for election every five years with multiparty involvement, where there is an independent elections commission, where there are recognized limits to the Government’s authority, and where since 1993, the US-based Freedom House Survey sees Guyana as free, with political rights and civil liberties.
“The Jagdeo Administration recognizes that advancing democracy requires expansion of inclusivity in governance. And constitutional amendments today place Guyana’s Constitution on the international stage as one of the most people-oriented, in relation to inclusivity and Opposition involvement in governance. And, indeed, constitutional amendments also continue to promote inclusivity.
“The Guyana Government’s economic policies of diversification and international competitiveness with a technology vision continue to consolidate the capacity for the country to withstand external shocks, and we had two recent ones, recent by economic standards: the rising global food and fuel prices and the international financial meltdown; these shocks failed to compromise the integrity of the Guyana economy.
“Then we have the President’s relentless efforts to make funds available to this country through his Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), inter alia. The Jagdeo climate change proposal continues to receive support from the British Government, and vis-à-vis the British multiplier effect on the European Union, and the international community.
“Jagdeo continues to light up the global stage with his LCDS, bringing immense prestige to Guyana’s international image and pride.
“For this reason, the conferral of an Honorary Doctorate on President Jagdeo is an honor for all the people of Guyana and the Caribbean”, Dr Misir concludes.