Address to the nation by his Excellency President Bharrat Jagdeo on the occasion of the 30th Anniversary of the Republic of Guyana.

Posted February 23rd 2000

Fellow Guyanese

I am excited by the thought that our nation is celebrating 30 years of Republican status. We are still in the prime of our youthful years, yet there are so many signs that we have matured over this short period of our history.

Our Republicanism must be a reminder that we no longer labour under colonial yoke. When we became a Republic our aspiration was to crown our Independence with the status of full and complete nationhood, and to make our people sovereign.

I recall that in his first Republic Day address our late President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan, drew a connection between Republicanism and the struggles of our ancestors to end slavery and indentureship. He saw Republicanism as a historic continuity of all that our people stood for, struggled against, and hoped to achieve.

This is my first address on a Republic Anniversary since I assumed the office of President. I therefore wish, on this occasion, to salute the heroes and martyrs of our nation’s history, and re-commit ourselves as a nation to realise their dreams.

But our heroes would not be satisfied that we merely maintained the trappings of freedom. They would have wanted us to utilise our freedom to build a national economy that is self-sustaining; to fashion democratic institutions where the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected; to consolidate the restoration of free speech, movement and association for which they fought.

Moreover, they would revel in glory that theirs has been the sacrifice that laid the foundation for a united people, marching together under our glorious Golden Arrowhead with purpose and hope.

My dear Guyanese Brothers and Sisters:

We are celebrating the 30th anniversary of our Republic of Guyana at the turn of a new Century. We cannot go forward unless we know where we came from, but as we look back, let us do so without prejudice. Many mistakes were made since we attained Republican status. We have wasted many of those years. But we must waste no more as we enter a dynamic future. We must count anew the years of hope and opportunity before us.

If in the past we have not understood each other let us, from now on, go forward boldly to be Guyanese, think Guyanese and act Guyanese. Ours must be a thinking and acting that place our nation first, and carve out a pride of place in the world for our Guyana - our common home.

“Mashramani” should be the symbolism of our oneness. It represents the desire of people of all races to cooperate: to sing, dance and revel together; to make a harmonious blend of our cultures; and to lift our Guyanese soul to the tune of the steel pan, tabla, the masquerade drums and flute.

Throughout this month, Guyana has assumed the colour and pomp of celebration and competition. Most remarkable have been the several childrens’ displays. Their poignant portrayal of love, unity, happiness, peace and plenty is a lesson to all Guyana. We must never betray or destroy the innocence of our children, nor shatter their dreams full of hope and bliss.

Their future cannot be realised in our Republic if those who should lead, walk separately and in different directions. Their future of hope cannot be realised if those who should know better and set standards of emulation glorify crime and criminals, and allow the desecration of our national flag.

My Government reiterates that the goals of the Republic must be lofty ones. They must include not only the promotion of a free and sovereign state, but also ethical and spiritual values. Among these should be hard work, selfless service to our community and the nation; respect for elders; honesty and thrift. To promote these we must continue to cleanse our society of those who enrich themselves unjustly; those who trade in illicit drugs and guns; those who plunder others mercilessly; those who do sub-standard work; and those who deliver inefficient service.

We must build our nation on an edifice of integrity, good character, discipline and honest dealings.

Fellow Guyanese:

It is apt during this 30th anniversary celebration that we should show that our nation has a sense of its own future, and has the instruments to do so. There are many plans at various stages of actualisation. We have every reason to be optimistic

We are making heroic efforts at rehabilitating broken down infrastructure, and restoring neglected services. We are re-building our education system, improving access to and delivery of health care. We are providing housing and potable water to our people. We are attending to human services - the elderly, the needy, the marginalised. And we have made tremendous strides in providing a living wage, improving living standards and creating job opportunities.

Although we can all see visible signs of improvements and change in our lives, our environment and our status, Guyana still remains a poor, developing nation. We are still burdened by an oppressive national debt.

However, our national wealth cannot sustain the life we want, at least not immediately. Many Guyanese are still below the poverty line, but my Government is working assiduously to change this situation. I need your support in this endeavour.

If wealth and job creation hold the solution to our problems, then we must all encourage investment and productive activities. We must deepen partnership with the private sector, and we must strengthen our historic bonds with labour. No patriotic Guyanese should tell investors to fade away. We must stop endless carping and negative posturing. We have to play in one team -Team Guyana.

While we observe the Republic anniversary, and we celebrate Mashramani, we must give recognition to our indigenous peoples for lending us their way of life for emulation by the entire nation. They have shown us how we can work and celebrate together. And who would be better to teach us than those who preceded all else on this great land? Like our many waters, we are also today many races. We must all flow in one direction, and merge our talents in a great sea of opportunities for all Guyanese.

Dear Guyanese:

It is my hope that in this year, the magical 2000, we can learn to bury old axes. We must recognise that political polarization would breed deeper alienation. We need to find creative ways of working together for the common good of all. As I have done when I made my Acceptance Speech, I extend my hand of friendship to all social partners. I have an open invitation for constructive engagement with all political parties and social organisations. On this glorious day, when the Golden Arrowhead will again flutter with pride and dignity over our free land, I salute all Guyanese. I congratulate you on our National Holiday. As we enjoy ourselves, let us all “Mash as One in 2000”!

Long live the Guyanese people!
Long Live the Republic!