-A first under new constitutional arrangement
YESTERDAY will forever be etched in the minds of all Guyanese as one of the most memorable days in the history of Guyana.   
   Voices, hearts and hands united to receive the country’s seventh Head of State, President Donald Ramotar as the presidency of Guyana, for the very first time, was constitutionally passed from one person to another.
    This is another first in the political landscape of Guyana; and while former President Bharrat Jagdeo has successfully passed the baton to his successor, the incumbent Head of State now has the responsibility of leading the nation through another five years of prosperity, progress and peace.
       With that thought arresting the minds of the entire nation, hundreds of supporters gathered on the lawns of the official presidential residence, State House, at 13:00hrs on the beautiful afternoon of December 3, to witness history in the making.
      Under a tent looped with red, gold and black trimmings representing the hues of struggle, sacrifice and success, PPP/C members and members of the diplomatic corps, families and friends prepared to usher in the moment. And as the strains of the National Anthem reverberated throughout the crowd, palpable patriotism reflected on the faces of the entire gathering.
      The ceremony began with a captivating dance piece dubbed the ‘Nation’s Pride’, which set the stage for the historic event, as the dancers proudly paraded the national flag, the Golden Arrowhead, for the world to see.
      As part of the formal ceremony, the Oath of Office was administered by the Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Carl Singh; and as he pronounced the words, a hush befell the audience as all strained their auditory faculties to hear and bear witness to Ramotar’s pledge of allegiance.

      “I, Donald Robindranauth Ramotar, do hereby solemnly declare, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the people of Guyana; that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana without fear or favour, affection or ill-will; and that in the execution of the functions of that office, I will honour, uphold and preserve the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” the new Head of State declared.
      With those solemn words, a resounding wave of applause erupted, and those gathered rose to their feet in recognition of the emergence of a new executive president, signalling the dawn of a new era in which all Guyanese would once again share in the development and prosperity of their beloved country.
      As is customary, this significant part of the ceremony was followed by the traditional sounding of the 21-gun salute; and for every shot fired and for every minute that elapsed, the significance of the moment was solidified.
      In his inaugural address, President Ramotar acknowledged that the investiture of a new president in any country is an opportunity for new beginnings and renewed commitment to the continued progress and development of a country, and he invited all citizens to use the opportunity to do just that.
      “I pledge to you that I will work steadfastly towards the goal of making Guyana a better place for all, with peace and unity as my guiding theme. I promise to be a fair and just President; to govern with the interest of all; and to ensure that the legitimate aspirations of our people are respected, and the resources of Guyana must benefit all our people,” he stated.
      Through each sentence and in each line, the gravity  of the responsibility and the enormity of the moment echoed in the President’s voice, even as he continued to assure all Guyanese that all stakeholders would work together in the best interest of the country and its citizens.
      President Ramotar said: “Despite our political differences, I believe that the various parties which have secured representation in the National Assembly can work together with all other stakeholders for the betterment of our country.”
      Ramotar also expressed gratitude to the PPP/C members for the hard work they had put in, which led to the victory. He also tendered gratitude to the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Janet Jagan, as well as Reepu Deman Persaud for their teachings that have molded the PPP/C and have impacted greatly on him.
     
       He called on all to “cast aside their partisan cloaks and put on the national garb,” as he once again pledged to be a fair and just president.
     
      Immediately after, members of the audience made their way to greet and congratulate their new Head of State. One by one, they embraced President Ramotar, with whispers of well wishes and embraces of camaraderie; and the President, in return, welcomed each in line with reciprocated gratitude.