REPUBLIC Day celebrations on February 23 will be heralded by the annual flag-raising exercises at the Public Buildings, Georgetown and in the country’s ten Administrations Regions. President Donald Ramotar will address the nation and Cabinet Ministers would be making similar addresses in the Regions, Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS), Dr. Roger Luncheon reminded at his usual post-Cabinet media briefing last week.
He said Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Mr. Norman Whittaker will be in Region One (Barima/Waini); Human Services Minister, Ms. Jennifer Webster in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam); Housing and Water Minister, Mr. Irfaan Ali in Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara); Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Bishop Juan Edghill in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) and Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy in Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice).
Minister of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran will speak in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne); Natural Resources and the Environment Minister, Mr. Robert Persaud in Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni); Amerindian Affairs Minister, Ms. Pauline Sukhai in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni); Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Mr. Ganga Persaud in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) and Public Service Minister, Ms. Jennifer Westford in Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice).         
According to Luncheon, the ‘Mash Day’ float parade has also attracted its attention and Cabinet has, therefore, authorised funding for the participation of Government Ministries, Departments and the Regions.