| Guard the light to continue progress – President Ramotar urges at Diwali motorcade |  |  |  |
| Written by |
| Wednesday, 14 November 2012 00:07 |
A PARADE of 25 illuminated floats and a colossal crowd of onlookers along the route from Sheriff Street to La Bonne Intention (LBI) Community Centre ground on the East Coast Demerara made this year’s Diwali motorcade on Monday evening the largest ever.
 President Ramotar addressing the thousands gathered at the LBI ground The exuberance was just the same inside the venue, as President Ramotar was making his way on foot to the stage area, where a packed cultural programme awaited.  Seated from left, Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, President Donald Ramotar, First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar, and Presidential Advisor Reepu Daman Persaud, with organisers and participants of the evening proceedings Solos and duets and group dances by the Dharmic Nritya Sangh, and a contingent from Trinidad and Tobago were some of the highlights of the evening. A surprise performance by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall of the song Sohani Raat and another selection were a delight. Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh were among those who joined the President in witnessing the event. President Ramotar, in his remarks, extended Diwali greetings to all and admitted to “thoroughly  President Ramotar handing over a trophy for one of the winning floats The universal message about the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness that is encapsulated in the Hindu religious festival is one which President Ramotar said must always be remembered. Coming from a political party that is celebrating 20 years in government, President Ramotar described Guyana as a country that emerged from a darkness of undemocratic rule to the light of democracy, and economic and social progress. “That is the road that we will have to continue on, to eliminate our past as we go ahead. That is why all of us in government, we are exhorting ourselves daily to ensure that our children have books in school to study, that our teachers are trained, that they have the  President Ramotar with one of the winning groups from the float competition Staying on course also calls for vigilance, according to President Ramotar who warned about the “dark forces plotting in corners” to return Guyana to the dark ages. “We must always remember to guard the light so that we can continue the progress that we started 20 years ago,” President Ramotar said.  One of the intricate Diwali floats Over the last 40 years, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has kept the Diwali motorcade tradition alive, hosting similar events in various parts of the country as a prelude to the grand occasion of Diwali. |