—PM says at annual Love, Light and Music event

PRIME Minister and acting President Moses Nagamootoo along with his wife, Sita Nagamootoo, hailed the sterling contributions of retiring U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway, in bolstering the local security sector.

The couple hosted their annual Love, Light and Music event at their official residence on Main Street, on Saturday night. According to Mrs. Nagamootoo, this event is an annual one which is a time to celebrate love and friendship.

“We want all of us to come together regardless of race, ethnicity, colour, religion [or] whatever,” she highlighted.

The prime minister expressed similar sentiments, sharing how the celebrations transcended from a kinship event in his own yard to a grand celebration at his official residence. And though he shared that it is an affable event, he could not help but mention the contributions of Holloway.

“As we got into government, one of the first things we wanted to do was dismantle the drug syndicate in Guyana. It was hurting us,” Nagamootoo related.

And it just so happened that a few months after the coalition government took office, Holloway—who has an expansive amount of experience in anti-drug efforts across Latin America—was accredited ambassador, Nagamootoo reminded.

The prime minister shared that additional training of security personnel, judicial officers and law enforcement personnel was fostered through the ambassador.

During this three years in Guyana, the ambassador welcomed 73 Peace Corp Volunteers and opened the first Drug Enforcement Administration Office (DEA) in the country, which to date has provided crucial support to Guyana’s law enforcement agencies.

This was part of the efforts to combat transnational organised crime under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), created by Former US President Barack Obama.

And these strides made in security reform have contributed tremendously to the “rebuilding of confidence in Guyana”, PM said too, adding that this translated to greater confidence in the government.

Aside from Holloway’s assistance in security reform, the acting President also highlighted the outgoing ambassador’s contribution in developing the first Guyana/ American Chamber of Commerce to boost business opportunities and the very recent introduction of American Airlines, to aid the transportation sector.

“In all my years in involvement in political life, I have found him [Holloway] to be one of the nicest fellows I’ve ever met,” Nagamootoo highlighted also.

The evening of entertainment aimed to spread warmth, according to Mrs. Nagamootoo but not a second passed without concern and consideration for President David Granger who is in Cuba receiving medical attention and First Lady Sandra Granger, who accompanied him.

While persons feted to the lively songs and dances indicative of Guyana’s rich, multi ethnic culture, they kept the President in their hearts. Among those in attendance were government ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and friends and family of the prime minister.