PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali in his Christmas Day message to the Guyanese people urged everyone, including world leaders, to give peace a chance.

This call could not have been timelier given the conflicts and tension in several regions of the world, most notably in the Middle East involving Israel and Palestine.

The situation in Gaza is particularly distressing, given the large number of civilian casualties and the dire humanitarian crisis. There is also the ongoing war in Ukraine as a consequence of the Russian invasion. There are also the calamities caused by climate change.

But peace is much more than the absence of war. It is also about the agony of not having enough to eat; about not having enough medicine to treat the sick and children not having access to opportunities for education.

Thankfully in Guyana, we are spared such catastrophe. We live in a society in which opportunities abound and where Guyanese, regardless of ethnicity, religion or political affiliation are provided with a chance to develop their talent to the full limit of their potential.

This is not to suggest that we are without our challenges. We are faced with an existential threat to our sovereign territory by our western neighbour. If there is one intriguing outcome from the Venezuelan threat, it is that our resolve and our determination to overcome have been strengthened. We have emerged stronger as a nation and much more united.

We remain wedded to our multiculturalism. This was particularly evident during our Christmas celebrations. Guyanese from all walks of life participated in one way or another during the festivities. The mood was good and so was the optimism.

There is today a pervasive sense of optimism and hope never before experienced. And not without good reason.

Our economic fortunes are changing in significant ways, due in part to our newly found riches but also to visionary leadership by President Ali and the PPP/C administration. We are ranked as the fastest-growing economy in the world. We are today a respected member in the community of nations. We are no longer the laughing stock of the world as was the case during the PNC’s dictatorial rule.

The prospects for Guyana look good. Guyanese are eagerly looking forward to the new year, 2024, which promises to be yet another productive year. Indeed, we have much to be thankful for during the past year, despite our adversities and challenges.