In his first address, President David Granger yesterday urged that the nation puts past rivalries behind it for the sake of unity and he promised to govern for all of the people and not just those who voted for him.
“The elections are over. The Guyanese people have chosen their representatives. The Constitution has been respected. Our democracy has been fortified. Let us now put past rivalries behind us and work in unity to banish poverty, ignorance, fear and hatred,” Granger, 69, the country’s eighth executive President, told the masses who gathered at the Public Buildings to bear witness yesterday afternoon.
“We assemble here today to witness the swearing in, not of a party leader, but of the President of all the people. I shall be a good President for all the people,” he added.
He also said the Guyanese people have chosen to inaugurate a “government of national unity” and to promote the multi-party, inclusionary partnership, which he said is the best way to overcome historic divisions.
Granger’s election represents the first change of government since the PPP/C won office in 1992. However, the Granger-led APNU+AFC alliance only won the May 11th polls by a margin of 4, 506 votes, securing 207, 200 votes to the PPP/C’s 202,694 votes.
Granger told Stabroek News yesterday that he would not shut out those who did not vote for him. “I didn’t get 100% and I cannot behave as if I got 100% and I cannot lock out the PPP/C as if we speak about national unity and inclusionary democracy I have to include the 49%,” he said.
“I am president of all the people and that is the overriding factor which will benefit all of the people. Sometimes my own party members may not be pleased but they elected me because of my ability to make correct choices. I intend to govern with the consultation of the APNU+AFC but in the national interest,” he added.
Former minister of Labour Dr Nanda Gopaul was the only member of the outgoing People’s Progressive Party/Civic administration who was present at the swearing-in. Granger said he would have liked to see more ex-ministers and even former president Donald Ramotar present because it would have been an illustration of their commitment to inclusionary democracy. “I extend the arm of friendship to former president Donald Ramotar… to join this movement of national unity,” he said to the deafening applause from the crowd, coalition members and other invitees at the event.
Although Ramotar yesterday maintained that the elections processes were “severely compromised,” he acknowledged Granger’s assumption of office.
Granger also announced that the outgoing and incoming administrations had agreed to establish a transition team to facilitate the transfer of assets and the transmission of information needed to ensure the continuity of government and to guarantee the stability and security of the state.
He said Joseph Harmon has been appointed the new administration’s team leader to manage the process. He also announced that his running mate, Moses Nagamootoo, would be appointed the next Prime Minister as soon as he is sworn in as a Member of Parliament in accordance with the Constitution.
He announced too that a formal inauguration ceremony will be held on May 26 at the National Stadium.
‘More determined’
Granger, a retired Brigadier of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), was sworn in around 2.19 pm on the balcony of the Public Buildings as thousands of jubilant persons thronged the compound to witness the event.
To approving screams and applause, Granger held the Holy Bible high in his right hand and waved it to the crowd before taking the oath, which was administered to him by acting Chancellor the Judiciary Carl Singh.
He began his address by quoting Psalms 118:24. “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it,” the scripture reads.
He referred to the symbolism behind holding the swearing-in ceremony at the Public Buildings. “We have come together at the National Assembly of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana as a mark of respect for the Parliament, for our Constitution and for the people of this great country, Guyana,” he said.
He congratulated the candidates who would be selected for the next Parliament and assured that he would never prorogue it—a reference to the controversial proroguing of the last Parliament by Ramotar.
Granger spoke for about 11 minutes and stressed that while the country reflects on the ills of the past administration, it was not a time to dwell on it but to analyse means and ways to move Guyana forward.
“We have witnessed the damage done to our beautiful country over the past 23 years. We have been mocked by the destruction of local democracy and the denial of local government elections. We have been treated with contempt by the dictatorial prorogation and dissolution of Parliament. We have had to bear the brunt of the high rate of crime, including armed robberies, arson, inter-personal violence, murder, piracy, rapes, and road fatalities and trafficking in persons. We have had to bear the cost of the squandering of state resources on exorbitant but misconceived mega-projects. We have suffered most from the high cost of living and the high level of unemployment, particularly among out youths,” he lamented.
“We have not been filled with hatred by these conditions, adverse though they are. We are, indeed, more determined than ever to refashion society into one in which our womenfolk can look forward to working for ‘living wages’ to cope with the high cost of living; one in which old folk can enjoy adequate pensions and social protection. One in which our young people will be able to attain higher educational standards and look forward to finding satisfactory jobs when they leave school. One in which our women and girl children can look forward to living in safety and to being protected from abuse and violent crime,” he added.
Looking out on the sea of yellow and green donned by supporters in the crowd, Granger ended his address by sounding a call to all Guyanese to embrace each other regardless of religion, race, class, occupation and asked attendees to hold hands as he led the gathering in singing lines from national song, “Let Us Co-operate.”
In addition to the thousands of citizens who assembled to witness the swearing in, members of the diplomatic community, such as envoys from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, the European Union, as well as international and regional observers of the elections were on hand.
