Teixeira urges Essequibians to put Guyana first

PRESIDENTIAL Advisor on Governance, Ms Gail Teixeira has called on political parties and leaders to put Guyana first.

Speaking at the 48th Independence flag-raising ceremony at the Anna Regina community ground on Independence Eve, Ms. Teixeira said the people of Guyana are facing the greatest challenge and pointed to the Parliament as the place where the Opposition is not putting Guyana first.
She said the country is facing a very serious situation where Guyanese are at a cross-road as a people.
The Presidential Advisor said all the economic and social gains fought for can evaporate if Guyanese do not look seriously at what is happening in the country. She therefore called on Guyanese to say that they want to go forward and not backward.
Speaking about Guyana’s Independence, the Presidential Advisor said she was a child when the Union Jack was lowered and the Golden Arrow Head was hoisted. Tracing back to the period before Independence, Ms Teixeira said from the time the country was occupied by the Dutch, French and English, people have suffered. She said the Amerindians who are the first people of Guyana were forced to flee into the deep interior because the Dutch desecrated many of them.
She also noted that it took decades to have trade unions recognised in Guyana so all Guyanese can have the right to belong to a trade union organisation. According to Teixeira the last trade union to be recognised after a long struggle was the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU).
The Presidential Advisor said the struggles for Independence as a free nation during the forties, fifties and sixties all along was not one without interferences in the country either to guide or to ensure that whoever heads the new Guyana as an independent country would not be a trouble for the many old colonial masters.
She said Guyanese have become stronger through their struggles, sacrifices, perseverance and commitment and that is the solid psychological basis and culture of the Guyanese people.
Ms Teixiera said the call for freedom did not end with Independence because regrettably twenty-eight years after that the struggle continued for the restoration for democracy so as to have each vote counted and persons 18 years and over to have a choice to vote for who they want in Government.
She said it took a long difficult struggle to get a free and fair election and for 22 years the country was faced with new struggles and challenges to reconstruct Guyana, building a new model Guyana that is democratic and on the path to a model society with information-based technology, noting the 55,000 cell phone services across the country.
The Presidential Advisor said Guyana is climbing and getting there slowly but surely. She said Guyanese must be proud of their ancestors and be very proud of those who came before and helped to build Guyana.
However she warned that Guyanese must not be complacent because the struggles and battles are not over.
Meanwhile, Region Two Chairman Mr Parmanand Persaud said since Guyana returned to democracy on October 5th, 1992, the country started to develop and move at a rapid pace. He said the economy moved upwards and in Region Two social services have improved and he pointed to several new banks, super markets, gas stations, better paved roads, potable and treated water and internet services.
The Chairman called on all Guyanese to support development under the PPP/C Government and help build Guyana to become a prosperous country.
Mr Persaud also called on the Opposition to work with the Government to ensure development continues and not to vote down projects in Parliament.
Ms Gail Teixiera accompanied by Regional Chairman Mr Parmanand Persaud, Vice Chairman Samaroo and Commander of ‘G’ Division and senior officers of the Guyana Defence Force inspected the guard of honour after arriving on the ground. Just before midnight the Presidential Advisor stood on the tarmac with officers as the Golden Arrow Head was hoisted to usher in the country’s 48th Independence Anniversary.
Fireworks erupted in the dark skies along with a shower of rain to mark the historic anniversary. In addition, there was a grand cultural show featuring dances, songs and poetry.

(By Rajendra Prabhulall)