REGIONAL Chairman, Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) member Sharma Solomon and the Alliance For Change’s Linden pointsman Audwin Rutherford, on Monday night at the Wismar Market Square, acknowledged the importance of the Almighty God, as they thanked the people of Region 10 for their overwhelming support.
It must be noted that the District Region 10 was the only region where the PPP/C lost votes, Solomon said, as he spoke at the specially arranged thanksgiving service in front of hundreds who attended, including religious organisations.
Chairman Solomon opened his thanksgiving message with a quote from noted Civil Rights activist, Martin Luther King (Jr.) saying: “If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values-that all reality hinges on moral foundations and that all reality has spiritual control.”
Solomon asserted: “We are gathered here to give thanks to almighty God, though he is called by different names based on our religion, we all acknowledged His presence in guiding our path. As we, the people of this blessed Region embarked on a political campaign a few months ago to change the course of history, to change the course of our lives, we leaped out on faith that greater is He that is within us. With Him all things are possible.”
He furthered: “We fought a hard campaign on the moral conviction that as children of Guyana, we too deserve to be treated with respect and dignity and benefit from the nation’s resources. For many it has been a hard road to travel and a rough, rough way to go. Guided by faith we knew we could not hesitate to be the change we wanted to see and the only path desired is the path that goes forward. Thus, with grit and determination, undeterred by challenges or setbacks, we worked our hardest to make the 11th of May the date to affirm: ”Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.”
He extended thanks also saying thanks to those who voted for the alliance. To those who voted for another party, your right to association is respected.  To all Region 10, we remain one.”
The AFC’s Rutherford declared to the gathering: “We are at the end of an historic phase and the beginning of an equally historic one. Historic in the sense that it took a coalition of two parties which themselves are a combination of parties to remove the PPP/C out of office. It should be noted that the signing of the historic Cummingsburg Accord afforded the APNU which consists of five parties namely Guyana Action party, Justice For All party, National Front Alliance, People’s National Congress / Reform and the Working People’s Alliance to merge with the Alliance For Change, which had conscious Guyanese from the PNC, PPP, TUF and all walks of Life. The 2015 results revealed that we have won a free and fair election and we have formed the Government. Victory won [in] the 2015 elections was a result of each and every one of you.”
Rutherford added: “We give thanks since this victory is of divine intervention. We must work together and most importantly we must live in one love and unity for we are one people, one nation one destiny, a destiny of prosperity and progress under this APNU-AFC Government.”
Greetings came from the various religious organisations including Apostle Rollingston Mitchell, who prayed giving thanks for God’s presence.
Brother Winston Muhammed of the Muslim faith said: “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,” as he quoted from the Psalms of the Bible. Also making an appearance on stage was Pastor Morris McKinnon, who noted: “This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice in it,” as he added “Righteouness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach.”
Popular Lindener Rawlston Mitchell, a lead singer from the musical group First Born, due to some technical difficulties sang his hit tune, “This is gathering Time” unaccompanied by a sound track, but this was well received by the crowd.There was also a good reception for the Seventh Day Adventist Choir SASCA Heraldiers, an award-winning unit which rendered one of their specials.
There were also several cultural items presented including the Flame of the Heart Drummers with drumming and Naiomi Allsopp, who did a poem while Pastor Richard McDonald entertained on the saxophone with another beautiful rendition.
The night’s programme was presented by chairpersons Pastor Selwyn Sills and APNU’s Vanessa Kissoon.
One of the recurring themes on the night’s tightly arranged programme was a reminder to all that “There is no greater force than Almighty God.”

By Joe Chapman