GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC -President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Monday, urged nationals to put aside their mistrust and division based on race and work together for a better Guyana.
“As we move towards a more inclusive and equitable future in this glorious land of ours, let us not allow the impediments of division, mistrust, mischief, and hatred to derail our country’s rapid development,” Ali said in a message in observance of Phagwah.
He said that while Phagwah is a Hindu festival brought here by the Indian indentured immigrants, it now enjoys universal appeal and that Guyanese from all cultural backgrounds join their Hindu brothers and sisters in celebrating the festival.
“Phagwah is observed in Guyana with an eruption of colors, effusive cheerfulness, and merriment. The sprinkling, showering, and smearing of colored powder on other’s faces and garments symbolize the inclusive character of this lively festival, one in which distinctions based on race, religion, and class are blurred,” Ali added.
He said Phagwah reminds Guyana “that despite the differences, we are all part of a typical human family who inhabits our planet.
“As such, we must continue to promote harmonious relations with each other, mindful that in doing so, we will create the conditions that will continually yield a bountiful harvest of benefits to be shared by all. “
Ali said that nature had bestowed Guyana with abundant natural resources and that the country is perhaps the most endowed in the Caribbean.
He said the government is developing the resources to benefit all Guyanese and is “pursuing a path of development in which no one will be excluded or left behind.
“Prudent policies are being promulgated to ensure the sustainable exploitation of our natural resources and to enhance our people’s knowledge and skills to allow them to better participate in our burgeoning economy.
“We are a nation forged out of a history of struggle. Challenges do not daunt us. We are imbued with a tenacious spirit to overcome adversity. Through hard work, diligence, and sacrifice, and with the right policies, we can each carve out a secure future for ourselves and future generations. “
Ali said as the country moves forward towards “a more inclusive and equitable future, “ it is imperative that the population should not “allow the impediments of division, mistrust, mischief, and hatred to derail our country’s rapid development.
“As we celebrate Phagwah with an outpouring of fervor and joy, love and with kindness in our hearts, may we commit to holding each other hands and moving forward together, united and free towards that rewarding future which lies ahead,” he added.
In recent years, the discovery of oil and gas here has made Guyana one of the wealthiest countries in the region, with the government forecasting that the local economy will expand by at least 25 percent per year in the next three to four years.
Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh said Guyana’s economy registered a natural growth of 62 percent last year and is forecast to expand by another 25 percent this year.
Revenue from oil exports and royalties is expected to climb 31 percent to US$1.5 billion this year, fueled by an average US$83 per barrel price for Guyana’s export basket.
and then 