Time to case aside partisan cloaks – Ramotar says as swearing in ceremony

Newly sworn in President Donald Ramotar has committed to working together with all stakeholders to make Guyana a true frontier.

At his inauguration on Saturday, Ramotar said the results of the 2011 general and regional elections reflect the democratic will of the people, noting that “the will of the people” is paramount and must be respected.

He noted that this year’s elections “have reaffirmed our maturity as a democratic nation, something we should all be proud”. “I wish to therefore congratulate my Guyanese brothers and sisters from all walks of life, who participated in this latest renewal of our democracy, for playing their part in this vital national process. Regardless of the results we are all winners – Guyana, and all the people of Guyana!”

President Ramotar, Guyana’s seventh executive president, succeeded Bharrat Jagdeo who served for 12 years, said being sworn in as president of Guyana is his most humble experience.

“I feel deeply honoured to have been so elected and I wish to express my appreciation for the confidence that has been reposed in me. I wish to assure you that I will work tirelessly to improve the lot of all Guyanese.”

He stressed the need for all to “cast aside” their partisan cloaks, while putting on national garbs to signify their willingness, commitment and readiness to work collaboratively to ensure progress continues in Guyana.

One of Ramotar’s priorities is to “try to keep our country united to make it a real strong country where all of the various cultures, racial groupings and ethnicities can be woven into one solid fabric, so that our country can be indestructible”. He said he “will work hard to demonstrate that I am a president to all the people of Guyana”.

The PPP/C won 32 seats in the 65-seat National Assembly; APNU 26 seats and the Alliance For Change (AFC) seven seats.

“As president of Guyana, I invite Guyanese from all of our political parties, all civic, religious and other groups in our country to join me in furthering the economic, human, and social development of our country for the next five years.”

He continued: “Indeed, because of the projected make-up of the parliament following these elections, this is the only way forward. I do not anticipate that this process will be easy but I am prepared to work beyond the difficulties to ensure that our country does not regress.

He urged the nation to use the opportunity to “work towards making the lives of each Guyanese better and the country as a whole, a place where we can be proud to call home.”

Ramotar who has served as the general secretary of the PPP/C since 1997, pledged to use all of his energy and influence that comes with his office to work “steadfastly towards the goal of making Guyana a better place for all with peace and unity as my guiding theme”.

That aside, he promised to be “a fair and just president” governing in the interest of all so as to “ensure that the legitimate aspirations of our people are respected and the resources of this great land of Guyana benefit all of our people”.

Ramotar thanked President Jagdeo, his family and all party comrades for their support, stating that he is fully aware of the sacrifices made.

“I wish to thank the party leaders who have molded my political outlook, particularly Cheddi and Janet Jagan, and comrade Reepu, who is still with us and many others too numerous to mention.”

Ramotar holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics from the University of Guyana and also studied in the former Soviet Union. He was born on October 22 to Sam Ramotar, a timber grant operator and Olive Constantine, a housewife in the village of Caria Caria, Essequibo River. He is one of nine children.

He began his working career on his father’s timber grant, and from 1966 to 1975, he worked at GIMPEX, the commercial arm of the PPP. In 1975, he was appointed manager of party headquarters ay Freedom House, a position that he held for eight years.

From 1983 to 1988, he served as a member of the editorial council of the magazine “Problems of Peace and Socialism” and as the international secretary of the Guyana Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) between 1988 and 1993.

He has been at headship of the party since 1979 when he was elected to the party’s central committee. He became a member of the executive committee of the PPP/C in 1983 and assumed the position of executive secretary of the party one year after its victory at the polls in 1992.

Guyana’s new president was also a member of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and a Bureau member of that organisation, as well as a member of National Assembly since 1992.