GUYANESE enter this penultimate week of 2020, Christmas week, with much to be thankful for and celebrate. Despite the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that is causing a silent horror story in many countries, even exacting a heavy, crippling toll on America and Europe, Guyana faces this holiday season with a national heart of immense gratitude — amidst sensible precautions against the pandemic. Guyanese are grateful for a year that eventually turned out to be epic and smooth and promising for the future, as a major oil-producing nation. Most importantly, however, Guyanese are thankful for leaders who stood up and proved that the Guyanese nation is one of character, moral fortitude, and a deep determination to respect and uphold the democratic ideal.

Most important than everything, is the fact that Guyanese stood up with one voice, united, strong, and determined to restore democracy to this land. The first quarter of 2020 saw a severe threat against Guyanese democracy, threatening to turn back everything that this nation has accomplished since restoration of free and fair elections and democracy in 1992. When citizens consider those days of national angst and international scorn, as a handful of people tried to blatantly steal the national elections, they today pledge a cohesive national commitment to guard this land against any such attempt, ever again.

Guyanese this season are thankful for the international diplomats who stood up and voiced their concern against what was going on. The United States played a major role in making sure Guyana remained free and open and democratic. Today, every citizen breathes a sigh of relief. What a blessing it is to enter the last fortnight of this year with such a good feeling about this country.

Since forming the new government, the ministers, under the exemplary leadership of President Irfaan Ali and Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo have worked with gusto, tremendous energy, and deep concern to bring relief, restore national confidence, and engineer socioeconomic solutions to make sure Guyana enters the new year looking forward to a future of brilliant development and global respect and a citizenry satisfied and well. Truly, this nation stands out as a global shining light today, but when Guyanese look back at 2020 to see the crass actions of Coalition members damaging democracy, crippling the national economy and harassing the Guyanese spirit, the nation today breathes a deep, grateful sigh of relief that good governance is emphatically restored.

History will record the many citizens who showed up with courage, moral fortitude, and determination to fight for their country. Many Guyanese, local and overseas, became activists, voicing their concerns and their shock and trauma at the destruction that the Coalition was routing. Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo, serving as the Opposition Leader, stood up with immense courage and leadership skill, galvanising even people who had sworn enmity against him, to bring this nation together. He was able to network well with the diplomatic community, to lobby with Canada and Europe and the United States to rally international support and to save this country from falling into the dustbin of history.
At the end of the day the court stood up with admirable character to deliver victory for the Guyanese people, and to his credit, Brigadier David Granger respected the court’s decision and resigned his government from the shocking disgrace of the 2020 fiasco. But it is Vice-President Jagdeo who would forever be loved by this nation for his leadership, courage and determination in 2020.

However, an unsung hero is among this cadre of noble Guyanese, and it is to him that the nation bows with gratitude. History will forever admire this one individual who stood up through all of this mayhem, to always maintain a sensible, rational, professional and brilliant stance. This entire nation takes a bow and extends a heart-felt thank you to Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, S.C.. Nandlall led the national fight in the courts, showing such brilliance and intellectual energy and leadership character that he became the silent hero of Guyanese across the nation and worldwide. With admirable humility, he turned up in court, always a voice of immense reason and calm assurance, always performing in court with dignity and statesmanship. Today, this nation is blessed with such leaders. In Bharrat Jagdeo and Anil Nandlall, the fight for democracy became a rallying call that the Guyanese nation took on, and proved that the mettle, character and inner soul of Guyana are intact and secure.

These are the things Guyanese would enjoy celebrating this holiday season. One could mention the instant economic relief that government provided to citizens in tax breaks and utility subsidies and cash grants for schoolchildren and to cushion the impact of COVID-19. One could mention the tremendous goodwill and national outpouring of gratitude for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) so rapidly turning things around for citizens. One could mention the exemplary leadership of Prime Minister Mark Phillips and the Ministers of Government. But, this season, Guyanese are grateful for the fact that this nation harbours such great souls as the men and women, young and old, who stood up and fought for this country in its hour of dire need, when a terrible threat banged at the body politic.

This week, Guyana got even better news to celebrate, as the World Court ruled in favour of Guyana in its border controversy with Venezuela. The nation also saw Nandlall, rightfully, elevated to Senior Counsel.

When a society looks for its heroes and its role models and its leaders to uphold as standard bearers, people gravitate to the ones who prove their mettle. This year, 2020, belongs without a doubt to the stellar leadership of Vice-President Jagdeo. He stands out as the man of the hour.

And for sheer intelligence, character, and professional brilliance, Attorney General Nandlall could very well be the poster boy that Guyanese celebrate with proud hearts pounding with love for what it means to be Guyanese. Nandlall made every Guyanese proud in 2020, with not a soul speaking a word against his rational, reasoning, and right-thinking legal opinions. For sure, he would have made legal precedence, and legal history across the Commonwealth will cite him for centuries to come.

Attorney-General Anil Nandlall S.C., for your immense legal brilliance, your tireless love for this nation, your professional and exemplary representation of a Guyanese legal luminary, indeed for showing us the heights of achievement possible for any Guyanese today, for unveiling the mettle and character and heart of the Guyanese soul, all Guyana salutes you.