…at Christmas tree light up at Rahaman’s Park
PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar ushered in the Christmas season last evening when he switched on the lights on the tree at the Ministry of Tourism’s 6th Annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Rahaman’s Park on the East Bank of Demerara.
With his message of peace and goodwill, the Head of State extended holiday greetings to the hundreds of persons gathered, including Minister Tourism Industry and Commerce (Ag) Irfaan Ali, senior government officials and members of the diplomatic corps.
The President acknowledged that 2010 was indeed a very busy year, particularly with the staging of general and regional elections.
He said, “This is a happy occasion when people should come together, embrace each other, when the message of the season becomes dominant …the elections results showed us that we must work together and capture the feeling of goodwill and try to maintain it to build a common home, Guyana.”
In his address as the Tourism Minister, Ali paid homage to former Minister of Tourism Manniram Prashad  for conceptualising the idea of the Christmas tree light up and for his earnest efforts in partnering with the private sector and making it a calendar event .
He noted that the season symbolises various aspects of sharing, within communities, in households, and at the national level, and emphasised the government’s role in ensuring that the necessary resources are provided to bring economic gains to all citizens.
After the formal ceremony, the children were entertained by Santa Claus and his elves, who paraded through the crowd to spread even more Christmas cheer.