Looking forward with a new administration

May 18, 2015 News

Brigadier (R’td) David Granger was sworn in as Guyana’s eighth Executive President on Saturday afternoon, and with that a new future for Guyanese to look forward to under A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration beckons.
Following the swearing-in ceremony of Guyana’s new Commander-in-Chief, a number of citizens shared their hopes for what President Granger will bring for the country.
As thousands eagerly waited outside Parliament Buildings to get a glimpse of the new President, members of Guyana’s business community expressed willingness to co-operate with the new administration in building a prosperous country.
Among those was President of the Private Sector Commission, Ramesh Persaud, who said that members were looking forward to working with President Granger towards “building” the country.
Adding his two cents to the conversation was business proprietor, Maniram Prashad, a former minister in the Bharat Jagdeo administration, who said that those in the private sector will work with the Government to develop Guyana.
“We want to see business prevail; we had a week of no businesses in the city. I think it is time for us to get together and build a prosperous Guyana,” said Prashad.

President David Granger is congratulated after his swearing in.

Moreover, in light of controversy stirred up by the outgoing administration over the validity of the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) final results, Prashad affirmed the confidence the business community has in the Commission.
“GECOM has pronounced that the elections were free and fair. The international observers and local observers had also said that it has been free and fair. We in the Private Sector Commission support that,” said the former Minister.
“So we will work with President Granger and the State towards building a safe and prosperous Guyana.”
Prashad had served under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) as Tourism Minister.
He said in his capacity as a businessman, once the results came out, the loser must accept defeat. “We (in the PSC) stood by that,” related Prashad.
Meanwhile, as the business community looks forward to strengthening the private sector, prospective Members of Parliament (MP) expressed their readiness to serve the nation. Ronald Bulkan was one such prospective MP who said that he was elated and excited for the success of his party.
“I look forward hopefully to being a member of the new Parliament when it’s convened and be able to make some contribution and some effort in some form or shape towards the laborious effort towards rebuilding, not only our damaged Parliamentary system but our damaged democracy,” said the senior APNU member.
He also said that he was looking forward to working towards his party’s objectives of reducing cost of living, addressing high rates of unemployment and tackling critical issues in the areas of healthcare and education.
Saturday’s massive crowd was testament to the goodwill present in most of the population, Bulkan said, which the APNU+AFC administration will need to work with to execute their promises to the entire nation.
He said that he will also be looking forward to the response from the outgoing PPP/C administration following President Granger’s invitation to collaborate in the country’s development.
“Our new president has extended an invite to Mr Ramotar to participate in the transition and in the efforts of the new government. I look forward to see how Mr. Ramotar and the leadership of the PPP will respond to the invitation that has been extended by President Granger,” said Bulkan.
APNU+AFC candidate and former MP, Jaipaul Sharma, was another to express expectations for working in an inclusive Government.
“What is important is that we give them (PPP/C) the opportunity to be part of this history-making moment,” said Sharma. He noted that Saturday’s swearing-in was an unbelievable moment that people across the nation have been waiting decades for.
Speaking on behalf of the religious community was Pastor Ronald McGarrell of the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO). He said that the community is looking forward to the promises of the new President for making life better for Guyanese citizens.
“I hope that he starts right away to make life better for all Guyanese,” said the Pastor.
“To make the country safer and make sure all people are well taken care of, especially the elderly and young people who need jobs.”
Looking towards the immediate future, Pastor McGarrell said that he wants for the new government to quickly implement systems that will help those suffering in Guyana, so that they will “be happy and glad to be living in this land.”