Granger’s call seems sincere

Dear Editor,

 

Newly elected President of the Guyana has made an excellent move for national unity when he invited his predecessor, Donald Ramotar, to join his unity government. In his speech at the swearing in ceremony President David Granger extended the olive branch in his quest for national and racial unity.

Several attempts were made in the past for coalition governments, but it seems as if Mr Granger’s call last Saturday is most sincere. The former army brigadier will be leading for the first time ever a multinational, inclusionary government – APNU+AFC.

The APNU+AFC coalition narrowly defeated the incumbent PPP/C which was in power for 23 years. It was a keenly contested election but the opposition forces led by Granger and Moses Nagamootoo of the AFC who was a former PPP/C strongman prevailed.

President Granger said, “Let us now put the past behind us and live in unity and banish poverty, ignorance, fear and hatred.”

There is no doubt that the PPP/C lost the government because of allegations of massive corruption, and former President Bharat Jagdeo made the situation even worse in his campaign when he spoke about race and falsely compared his lavish lifestyle with that of the founder leader of the party, Dr Cheddi Jagan.

His utterances prompted several influential Guyanese who were supporting the PPP and some who were on the fence to join forces with the APNU+AFC coalition.

President Granger emphasized that he would encourage lawmakers to be faithful to their office and said that his administration would strive to restore democracy. He appealed to Guyanese that the damage to the nation should not push them to allow hate to fester within their hearts, but serve as another driving force for all to be more determined to refashion the country.

The diaspora has been monitoring the campaign and the delay in declaring the election results via the numerous media, especially facebook.

Yours faithfully,
Oscar Ramjeet