First Lady says President Ramotar cares deeply for people

FIRST Lady, Deolatchmie Ramotar extols her husband, President Donald Ramotar, for his humane, humble, considerate, caring attitude towards people, recalling his role as father singing their baby children to sleep while she worked as a nurse at a city hospital.

In an exclusive interview at State House in Georgetown, the First Couple talked freely and openly about their relationship, their family, and their marriage. The President and First Lady celebrated 40 years of marriage last Wednesday, and sat down together to talk about their amazing life journey.
President Ramotar played a hands-on role raising their three children, staying up late at nights to baby sit, singing the children to sleep when they were babies, Mrs. Ramotar said, and taking care of the home while she worked as a nurse.
He knew she disliked being in the kitchen alone, and so he joined her, working along with her to cook meals and do kitchen chores.
She described the President as an outstanding family man, with a character built on the rocks of humility, compassion and thoughtfulness.
These days, when he returns home at State House from the Office of President at night, after she would have retired to bed, he washes his own dishes that he used for his lunch, and puts them away.
The First lady revealed a side to President Ramotar that’s full of humanity and excellence of temperament.
Looking relaxed, at peace and comfortable with each other, with Mrs. Ramotar glowing and holding the hands of President Ramotar as they sat side by side for the television interview, the First Couple said when they got married 40 years ago they could not have envisioned becoming Guyana’s First Family.
They focused on building a life together, and in loving each other. Today, they both say that their love is intact and strong, with President Ramotar noting that they have become great friends and share “everything” with each other.
Not only are they the First Family of the nation, but their marriage is a role model for the Guyanese people, although President Ramotar said he would not want to uphold any particular way as the formula to achieve success in marriage and life. Everyone, he said, has their unique circumstances to deal with in life.
But they both underlined certain core values that work together to build a successful marriage and life. Some of these include absolute trust for each other, tolerating each other’s shortcomings, always communicating, remaining humble, and most importantly, allowing each other space to grow individually and to pursue individual careers and dreams.
To this end, Mrs. Ramotar understood what would constitute a life in politics, and so when her husband came home late or had to dedicate time to political work, she understood, and supported him.
However, there were times when she felt “angry” at him, but, instead of fuelling a fight, the President simply communicated with her, telling her about his day and engaging her in conversation.
She said President Ramotar is an excellent communicator, and always shows deep consideration for the feelings of others.
Her praise for him as an adoring father and outstanding husband flowed from her heart of gratitude and contentment for a life well-lived.
As the First Couple celebrated their 40th marriage anniversary, President Ramotar said “in reflection” he has a lot to be grateful for, and praised Mrs. Ramotar for her understanding nature, and for standing by him through long years of poor pay and long nights out on the political field.
The couple got married on November 5, 1974, and remembers riding their bikes through the streets of Georgetown looking for an apartment. They eventually found one in Alberttown, ordered furniture, and embarked on their journey of life together.
However, the first night they lived in the apartment, they had to sleep on the floor, on cloth bags that their friends provided, because the furniture was not yet delivered. The bed arrived a few days later, and their amazing voyage from humble Essequibo kids falling in love on the ferry traversing the Demerara River in 1973 to State House and the Presidential Office got underway.
Today, the nation’s destiny lies in the hands of their character of personal humility and humble service, their inner values and principles, and the First Lady, in a sombre voice, with an authentic tone of belief, said she knows that her husband would succeed as President of their country, just as he succeeded as father, husband and family man.
She said President Ramotar’s care and consideration for people, his humility and humanity, his constant reaching out to understand and lend a helping hand, would serve Guyana well.
President Ramotar said he is contented and thankful for achieving the milestone of their 40th wedding anniversary, and noted with his usual humble attitude that this achievement is not “unique” in Guyana, as many couples in the country celebrate long marriages.
He agreed with Mrs. Ramotar that they achieved everything they ever wanted to, all their dreams, and now look forward to grandchildren and “another 40 years together.”
The President said his focus now is on his contributions to the nation.
The one who knows him best, who has been his constant companion and knows his heartbeat, Mrs. Ramotar, said she has full confidence that he will use the same qualities that made him such an outstanding family man to govern Guyana with success and amazing, inspiring results.

(Ed. Note: This newspaper will publish a full feature on the life of President Donald Ramotar and First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar in next Sunday’s edition)