President Bharrat Jagdeo on Friday receiving the Golden Arrowhead from a member of the Guyana Defence Force
I ask you to keep faith in our country. This country can become the paradise that we all wish for, that every child can grow up here and have a good life just here in Guyana.” This request was made by President Bharrat Jagdeo as he prepared to demit office in a few months’ time.
Addressing a packed Guyana National Stadium on Friday, September 16 during Appreciation Day activities, Jagdeo expressed optimism that better days are ahead for Guyana.
The sixth executive president of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana was escorted to the podium by members of his Cabinet, accompanied by much fanfare from the Guyana Police Force Band; and as he stood dignified in the middle of the field, a grateful crowd took to its feet in reverence of its president, jubilantly waving replicas of the Golden Arrowhead.
“We must never stop believing that our better days are yet to come, for I truly believe that too, notwithstanding all the progress we’ve made; notwithstanding the fact that we’ve taken a bankrupt country and restored in to financial vibrancy; notwithstanding the fact that our people were more divided in the past than they are today; notwithstanding the fact that more of our young people have access to jobs, education, health care, and other things that make life bearable,” the president pointed out.
“We still have to believe that tomorrow will be better. And if we believe so, then we will work towards it, every single one of us. Because that is what it takes to transform our country, to change our country, to make it better.
“It needs all of us – every one of you – working very hard, giving of your very best to make this country the place that I know it can be.”
In what could be deemed a farewell speech, the internationally-renowned leader of the Guyanese people urged citizens to be proud of each other and in the things that are Guyanese. “I’m extremely proud of this country,” he declared, noting that that pride was more than because of his presidency, but flowed from his being a “son of the soil.”
“I ask you to keep this love alive in your hearts burning bright, because that’s the foundation on which all of our efforts will be dedicated to changing Guyana,” Jagdeo pleaded, while urging citizens not to be sidetracked by the “scandal industry.”
“… because they (scandal-mongers) often come from people who belong (to) a different era, a past era; a period and an era when those tools of division separating people were relevant tools. In today’s world and in today’s Guyana, the tools that are most effective are tools that bring people together across race, across religion, and across gender,” the president explained.
He urged that Guyanese aggressively fight scandal-mongering.
On the other hand, a humble Jagdeo said the presence of the thousands at the Providence Stadium sent the message that Guyana’s democracy was a mature element of national life.
“I do hope that future presidents will also be able to stand here in a similar fashion and enjoy your support because they have contributed to moving our country closer to that goal, that sacred goal where every person – man, woman and child – would have a better life than they have today.”
From village boy to president
“The journey from a village boy to the presidency has been a long one, and many people have made a significant input into that journey. And today I wish to express gratitude to all of them,” Jagdeo declared.
The sagacious Jagdeo told the packed stadium that the qualities of love for country and not being judgmental of people based on appearance or belief, which his parents instilled in him, continue to guide him today.
“I think that lesson stayed with me throughout my life. So far, it helped me in every decision that I have made as president,” the man who was showered with accolades stated. “Growing up with the intense love of my sisters and also my parents also taught me compassion and love for others and (for) our country.”
According to Jagdeo, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), of which he has been a member since the early years of his life, has also played an important role in moulding and supporting him. The audience was told of the struggle that party endured to change the lives of Guyanese.
Jagdeo stated that, despite the party’s struggles, freedom was twice snatched from Guyana, but the party did not allow itself to be bigoted. He described the PPP as “a party that stands for the highest ideals in this country, an ideal that still governs us today”.
“We have to work hard to ensure that every single Guyanese makes progress, and…we must never ever close our party to people who are of different races, or different religion, or different gender. That is the ideal that allows us to work even-handedly right across Guyana to ensure that every person (has) a part of the Guyanese dream,” the president said.
And as he continued to express gratitude, the supporters got their share. “I hope that I have vindicated your support, because we have worked hard in difficult circumstances to change our country; to restore hopelessness with hope, and to restore malaise and morass – economic morass – with vibrancy and viability.
“And we have worked hard to make sure our children have a chance to grow up in freedom by enhancing and consolidating the rights and the privileges of our people.”
Comments are closed.