President Donald Ramotar recently went on a ground -breaking visit to Atlanta, Georgia, where he held discussions with local officials, civil rights leaders, and members of the Guyanese community.
In a release, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said, the president was given a tour of the former church and the gravesite of slain civil rights icon Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr where he met with King’s son, Martin Luther King III. King, along with leading historians, academic and civil rights figures, exchanged views with the president on the course of the international struggle for civil rights.
President Ramotar, who was accompanied by First Lady Deolatchmie Ramotar, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Guyana’s Ambassador to the United States, Bayney Karran, held wide-ranging discussions with members of the Guyanese community.
In a town-hall style meeting, which lasted over four hours, Ramotar addressed numerous issues ranging from developments in the social sector, energy and infrastructure to the security situation, city sanitation, air links and cooperation with opposition political parties.
He bemoaned the fact that a lack of cooperation from the political opposition was curtailing progress on development projects he deemed vital for Guyana’s transformation.
The president was applauded after declaring that, “We have not spent US$ 30 million to build a road to nowhere. I am determined that Guyana will produce hydro electricity sooner rather than later.”
Minister Rodrigues-Birkett, who welcomed the gathering on behalf of the president, informed that the government will establish a consulate in Atlanta to attend to the needs of Guyanese nationals in that area.
Dr Vincent Adams of the Linden Fund moved a vote of thanks to President Ramotar for visiting the community.
The president and his delegation were welcomed by performances from the Guyana Queh Queh Company and the Radha Krishna Mandir dance troupe. The event was held at the Redan Party Rental and Cultural Centre in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
