President urges nation to denounce opposition budget cuts
– to speak with one voice, demand a reversal
AS hundreds gathered last evening at the Indian Commemoration Trust on Camp and Church here in the City to celebrate the 174th anniversary of the arrival of our East Indian ancestors, President Donald Ramotar seized the opportunity to call on the nation to demand a reversal of the opposition-led budgetary cuts that could well prove disastrous if something is not done urgently.
It’s an appeal he also made at the Joe Vieira Park, just across the Demerara Harbour Bridge on the West Bank Demerara, while attending a similar function there.
At both venues, the President noted the many developmental programmes that would be affected by the more than $19B cut, among them the Low-Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) projects, to name just a few.
At the IAC function, titled Pushpanjali 12 after the number of years it has been held, President Ramotar contended that the circumstances which obtained when our East Indian ancestors arrived here in Guyana is something that all Guyanese should be familiar with and not forget.
Those were trying times, he said, as many were the battles they’d had to fight. But through it all, and by dint of hard labour, they were able to survive and thrive, and thus make it possible for their descendants to be here today.
And what was even sweeter, he said, was with the arrival of the other races, the fusion that evolved saw Guyana being credited with being one of the most unique cultures within the Caribbean.
On that note, the President called on the nation to build on that fusion and acclaim and be each other’s keeper, bearing in mind the road this country has travelled over the last two decades. He reminded those gathered that Guyana is considered exemplary in many respects, one of which is the international recognition it has achieved though the LCDS.
Noting that Guyana has nowhere to go but up, once again creating history, he recalled those days of yore when this nation was considered as having one of the best standard of living in the Caribbean, until the late 80s when it was ranked one of the poorest in the world. The Pushpanjali celebrations saw several hundred persons coming out for what could be considered a relaxing evening of cultural food. Women and their children, fathers and, in some cases, extended families were seen making their way into the venue.
Persons evidently used the event to socialize and reconnect with those they may not have seen in a while.
There was also the sale of sweetmeats and beverages, but neither rank nor alcohol were allowed to be used. Families were treated to an evening of singing, dancing, music and stage plays from several Indian cultural groups and individuals, who all contributed in making the evening a delight for the hundreds present.
Meanwhile, over at the Joe Vieira Park, the activities mirrored those of the celebrations at the Indian Commemoration Trust. Activities there were coordinated by the West Coast/West Bank Demerara Indian Arrival Committee.
Despite occasional showers before the show, which started at 16:00hrs, and despite the ground being wet, the event was well attended. Persons were seen in their traditional Indian wear exercising tremendous reverence for their culture. Dances by the Ishara dance troupe, Tabla drumming demonstrations, and even a Tassa drumming competition and a float parade were also part of the activities there.