“I am always overwhelmed by the crowd’s response to my husband…it shows that they have a liking for him and that they respect him”

MEMORIES of the splendour associated with Guyana’s 49th Independence Anniversary Flag Raising Ceremony and the Inauguration, a few hours later, of the APNU+AFC coalition leader, David Granger, as Guyana’s 8th Executive President will remain indelibly etched in the minds of thousands of keenly enthusiastic Guyanese and others who witnessed those signature events on May 26 last.

The Sunday Chronicle, in an exclusive interview with First Lady Mrs Sandra Granger a few days later, enquired how she had felt during those nostalgic and emotional moments, given the public show of support for her husband.

Said Mrs Granger: “I am always overwhelmed by the crowd’s response to him, because it shows that they have a liking for him and that they respect him; and that’s a good feeling. But it also is [to me] of concern, because the expectations are so high; and how many things can he deliver?

“Because I think sometimes people forget he’s just one person and he’s working in a coalition. He’s working with different personalities, who might have different priorities.

“The question is,” she surmised: “How do you mould this coalition into one unified machine to move the country forward? That, I think, would be a task by itself.

“Yes, I was proud of him. I knew he would be dignified and he would act appropriately,” she concluded.

Reflecting on the events of May 26th, the First Lady recalled that things started off very formally and emotionally for many people. She opined that many persons had never seen the formality of a flag-raising ceremony.

“They never had that opportunity to express national pride through that ceremony, and several people told me that they were crying when they were singing the national songs. They were very, very moved by it. And the biggest thing of all is that at the end of it, when people moved off, there was no litter on the ground.”

That obviously would have filled the President’s heart with pride, knowing full well his disciplined stance on keeping the environment clean. Within hours of being sworn in on May 16th last, President Granger was able to influence a massive clean-up of one of Guyana’s key national monuments — the Independence Arch — and the city and its environs at large. The first line responders were key private sector entities who voluntarily and enthusiastically gave of their time and resources, with other citizens later pitching in their lot.

Mrs. Granger was heartened that a lot of people take pride in the fact that we have an Independence Arch, and that it was restored in time for the historic 49th Anniversary celebrations. She noted, too, that prior to it being restored, a lot of young people never knew there was an arch there, and what it symbolised.

“So there were a lot of pluses, and I understand now it is a tourist site, and already wedding photographers are abandoning the 1763 Monument and taking wedding photographs there under the arch”.

She said people have also been seen taking photographs with their children at the Independence Arch.

Two arches were presented to the Government of Guyana by the Demerara Bauxite Company (Demba) on Guyana’s attainment of Independence on May 26, 1966. The other arch, which was erected at the entrance to the Ruimveldt gateway, was removed during the time that the road was being converted from a two-lane highway to a four-lane highway.

That other arch is also slated for restoration, and the First Lady commented that she would like to see it restored as a matter of urgency. She also observed that the stairway of the old Palms institution, constructed of designed wroth iron, was removed several years ago during the process of renovating the building.

“I really would like to know where those completely wroth iron stairs have gone, and would like to see them erected once more,” the First Lady said.

By Shirley Thomas