Sir Shridath Ramphal’s book launched –

May 29, 2016 News

publication in honor of Guyana’s fiftieth year of Independence

“Guyana In The World: The First of the First Fifty Years and the Predatory Challenge” by Sir Shridath Ramphal was launched on Friday at the Georgetown Club.

President Granger leafing through the book “Guyana in the World: The First of the First Fifty Years and the Predatory Challenge”in the presence of Sir Shridath Ramphal and Minister Carl Greenidge.

Among those at the launch were President David Granger, Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge, as well as several other Government Ministers and distinguished guests.
The launch was opened by Major General (Ret’d) Joseph Singh, who reflected on Guyana’s step into independence and the fact that he was in England with President David Granger training on the Officer’s Cadet Course on the day that Guyana became an independent nation.
He noted their excitement and anticipation while waiting to return home on June 6, 1966.
Major General (Ret’d) Singh introduced world renowned author, Dr. Ian McDonald, who was on hand to address the gathering. Maj. Gen. Singh noted that Dr. McDonald is self described as “an Antiguan by ancestry, Trinidadian by birth, Guyanese by adoption and West Indian by conviction.”
Author of the West Indian classic, “The Hummingbird Tree” Dr. McDonald paid homage to Sir Shridath Ramphal. “It is an honor to be invited to say a few words at the launch of this book; it was carefully, beautifully and handsomely crafted.”
He noted that the book is a treasure and heaped praises on Sir Shridath; he said that Sir Shridath has never written a “sorry sentence” in his life.
Sir Shridath Ramphal in a brief overview of the newly published book, remarked on his role in helping to write Guyana’s Constitution in 1966 as she became a free country.
He noted that now, 50 years later he has written this book that reflects on the first years of Guyana as an independent nation. He posited that fifty years later it has been a generation and more, that many Guyanese have grown up not knowing of Guyana’s step into independence.
Sir Shridath stated that he was pleased when the Minister of Foreign Affairs approached him about documenting his reflections of the first years of Guyana’s Independence.
He hopes the book can help the youths to be aware of, humbled and inspired by Guyana’s first years of independence. He said that he addressed the challenges faced by Guyana in the wake of Venezuela’s “predatory” actions at that time.
Sir Shridath stated that he “dedicated every word to the young people of Guyana.”
On hand to officially launch “Guyana in the World: The First of the First Fifty Years and the Predatory Challenge” was Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge who talked about Guyana’s achievements since gaining Independence in 1966.
He thanked Sir Shridath Ramphal for taking on the challenge of writing about Guyana’s first years of Independence. He acquitted himself creditably, he added.
Minister Greenidge noted that he took “pleasure in launching the publication” in honour of Guyana’s fiftieth year of Independence.
Sir Shridath Ramphal then presented President David Granger with a signed copy of the book.