New Year wishes

Sunday Stabroek caught up with several personalities in society and asked them to share their New Year wishes with us.

Some of their answers follow:

Rajesh Dubraj-chutney singer: “I would like to see Guyanese come together more and work as one for the betterment of the country. Personally [I] want to wish everybody a Happy New Year and hope Guyana can rise above the elections.”

Priya Manickchand-Minister of Education: “My New Year wish is that as a country we move forward in every respect building on the gains we have made socially, economically and as a maturing democracy, and also as it relates to our status internationally. This would require all hands on deck behaving responsibl[y] throwing ego and personal gain and narrow agendas aside and placing the nation and people of Guyana first, as we in the executive arm of government have committed to do. On a personal note I would want to manage my time better so that I could spend more quality time with my family, particularly my husband and daughter.”

Gordon Moseley-President of the Guyana Press Association: “I think the year ahead will be a very interesting one for Guyana and Guyanese. I would wish that as a nation we grow up and realize that we have passed the adolescent stage. There must be a new awakening in our politics and new respect for each other. I would like to see the members of the media being more respected for the job they do, and of course I would encourage my media colleagues too to always be fair in their reporting and realize that we are serving in the public’s interest. The voices of our young people should be listened to more. For too long as a nation we have not paid attention to their thoughts and ideas. They must be allowed to share their thoughts and have those thoughts taken seriously; we cannot go on treating our youths if they were some algebraic equation. And finally I would like to see my hometown of Linden being given access to the other television stations in Guyana. Here’s to a year of success and God’s guidance for all Guyanese.”

Donna Ramsammy-James-designer: “I wish for peace in Guyana and for everybody to have a positive attitude because I think Guyana is on the brink of greatness. As someone who travels a lot everything is on [the] decline [in so many places] but when you come to Guyana it is bubbling, particularly in regards to the Caribbean and the US. If we cooperate and work together everything will be flying, but if we don’t work together we are going to destroy what we have and a future generation. This is what I wish for, we must remember the motto ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny.’ Let’s look out for Guyana and not individual interest.”

Godfrey Munroe-tennis player: “On a personal level I wish for growth for myself and family in all aspects of life – physical, financial and spiritual – and for me to be successful in all the things I will endeavour to do. On a national world level, I wish for more peace and harmony and understanding of each other’s position and humility. I also wish to see institutional strengthening in sports and more harmony and also for an increase in membership of table tennis players and more and national recognition for this sport.”

Pamela Dillon-pageant coordinator: “I wish for peace and progress for this nation because we just went through an electoral process that was quite challenging. I wish the present government well and I want to see change and development. I wish all the queens that have passed though my life all the success that they wish themselves.”

David Granger: Head of APNU: “My greatest wish is to be able to use our strength in the National Assembly, particularly our influence in the budgetary process, to improve the quality of education especially at the University of Guyana (UG) and Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE). I think if we can improve those two institutions by an infusion of funds there will be a dramatic improvement in the quality of lives of our citizens.”

Stella Ramsaroop-columnist: “My New Year’s wish is to see women play a more vital role in Guyana’s business communities, in the sports arena, in the agriculture process, in the executive and legislative branches of government, in the judicial process (beginning with law enforcement) and in the religious communities. When women finally take their rightful place in society, this is when we will see not only a New Year, but the start of a whole New World for all humans. Who could wish for anything more?”

Margaret Lawrence-Excutive Director of Merundoi Incorporated and media and theatre activist: “I would like to see a Guyana working successfully under the tripartite system that we have in parliament with the first female speaker of the house in the name of Debbie Backer. Not only because I think she is an excellent parliamentarian but because she is an alumna of the Bishops’ High School. I also would like to see the youth of Guyana who have become very conscious with the last election becoming more involved in civic programmes because of their new found voice. I would like to see a Merundoi being awarded more projects in keeping with our mission statement, which covers social issues, health issues and governance and success to our upcoming television sitcom. I also wish that I can lose thirty pounds.”

Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones-comedian/actor: “I would love to see corporate Guyanese be a little more flexible in the activities they support and not just focus on sports. There are a lot of talented and creative minds out there but corporate Guyana likes to deal with normal activities. We have a Ministry of Culture but the ministry has been overlooking where the real productions of cultural activities are being put on. Actors and actresses have to strive on their own and there is no real hope, so many of them have to get a regular job and just a few of us strive on our own. So for the New Year I wish that we get some support from corporate Guyana. I would also wish that men would take up their responsibilities when they father children and not just leave women to bring up the children. It is important for father figures to be in the home because I believe the absence of fathers is the cause of children going astray many times. And where the fathers are not there the laws should ensure that they pay their children support.”

Charmaine Blackman-singer: “I wish everybody success in the New Year but particularly among musicians I wish for more unity among ourselves for us to be respected for what we do. Each person has a voice, something to say and something to give and I wish we all get the opportunity to do so that we can prosper in the New Year.”

Henry Rodney-comedian/actor: “My fervent wish is for a peaceful, better and loving Guyana and I wish and hope that the winds of change continue to blow across the length and breadth of this wonderful country of ours, bringing growth, much development, especially of our natural resources, and a better living for all Guyanese. We are too rich to be so poor so I wish that change is in the making. We all need to turn to God; without him we are nothing.”