Dear Editor,
In 1979, in the midst of President Jimmy Carter’s presidency, I lived in the United States. The 1979 SALT II (Strate-gic Arms Limitation Treaty), signed between the Soviet Union’s Brezhnev and USA’s Jimmy Carter, limiting the number of both nation’s nuclear weapons, to 2,250 apiece, was perhaps, President Carter’s crowning achievement as a President. Sighs of relief were heaved by the American populace.
So it is with the deepest of sadness, I hear of the passing of the 39th President of the United States – James Earl Carter, Jr, fondly known as Jimmy Carter – the peanut farmer – (that was his family business). He was the only centenarian president, being born October, 1, 1924 – and deceased on December 29, 2024 – a life span of over 100 years! President Carter hailed from the State of Georgia, USA, and was a Statesman who served one term as the US President. However, his greater legacy is, inarguably, his post presidency advocacy as a humanitarian for world peace, through the Carter Center.
In 1992, in Guyana, President Carter pushed for fair and free election as well as the dissolution of an authoritarian state (since 1966) and the restoration of democratic governance. Agreed upon by Guyana’s then President, Desmond Hoyte, and accepted by Guyana Election Com-mission, his blueprint for an introductory electoral reform for Guyana’s 1992 election, paved the way for the People Pro-gressive Party (PPP) victory at the 1992 polls. Democracy prevailed!
Notwithstanding the above, President Carter’s legacy will be forever etched and interwoven in the annals of Guyana’s history. As I offer sincere condolences to his family and the Carter Center, may God grant them the strength to prevail and may the beacon of hope illumined by the Carter Center perpetually shine in Guyana.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Subrian, Esq.
