Emphasizing what has become his mantra of national unity, President David Granger vowed to transform Guyana for the better and pledged not to let the Guyanese people down as thousands braved rains to witness his formal inauguration ceremony at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence yesterday.

“I affirm as President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, my determination to continue the task of working to achieve national unity and towards making Guyana one nation,” the President said in his address in which he gave glimpses of his vision for the next five years with a strong emphasis on tackling poverty, the problems youths and women face as well as transforming the economy and the vital role the Caribbean can play as a market for Guyana’s products.

The ceremony was witnessed by thousands inside the stadium which had to be locked due to the sheer volume of persons who turned up for the ceremony. The stands – around 12,000 persons – were filled to capacity in addition to a ring of persons on the outskirts of the ground. Thousands more viewed the ceremony on screens set up on the tarmac outside while the event was broadcast on television and streamed on the internet.

Children in formation at the inauguration of President David Granger yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium.

The Joint Services Honour Guard and band at the inauguration.

Waving the flag: Dancers in action at the inauguration of President David Granger.

Indigenous dancers symbolically blessed President David Granger at yesterday’s inauguration at the Guyana National Stadium.

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Clouds darkened the skies for most of the day with heavy showers at times but this did not deter those eager to witness the historic moment and crowds made their way to the stadium early and by midday, it was filled. Persons came from as far away as Lethem in the Rupununi. Amid showers and a joyful atmosphere, soldiers marched, bands played, singers sang, children danced and performed cultural items in commemoration of both the inauguration and Guyana’s 49th independence anniversary which was also observed yesterday.

Dressed soberly in black, Granger inspected a guard of honour upon his arrival which was described by the Master of Ceremonies Michella Abraham as “the moment all of Guyana has been anticipating.” The President’s erect bearing and precise steps emphasised his military background and drew roars from the crowd with chants of “David! David!” The arrival of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo also drew roars of “Moses! Moses!” and persons jumped and waved in sheer excitement.

Granger said that his government is committed to making Guyana’s motto of ‘One people, One nation, One destiny’ a reality. “We have a vision to actualize the visions of our founding fathers who fought to bring forward a new state. We have a duty to continue their work which was to transform a divided country…into a united nation but we cannot have a united nation if we are divided,” he asserted as he pledged to continue the task of working to achieve national unity and making Guyana “one nation.”

The President pointed that he is not working by himself but with the largest coalition of political allies that has ever been established in Guyana. “We won the support of the majority of people. Now we can better work in an in an inclusionary manner towards a common destiny,” he said. With the victory of the APNU+AFC alliance at the May 11 general elections, Granger said, Guyanese have been liberated from one party domination, the threat of dictatorship has been thwarted and the Parliament has been protected from the threats of premature prorogation and dissolution. “We are assembled to proclaim our intentions to work towards the goal of inclusionary democracy and to reaffirm our respect for the national Constitution,” Granger declared even as he pointed out that the results of the last two elections makes it clear that the majority of Guyanese want inclusionary democracy.

Noting the record numbers that turned out to vote, the President said that democracy has been fortified and Guyanese must now look to the future and tackle crime, disease, ignorance and poverty. Some of the speakers for the sound system malfunctioned at one point and at times, the president’s speech was barely audible.

Amnesty

Focusing on youths, he said that they should be learning in colleges not languishing in prisons and said that this is why he granted amnesty yesterday to several dozen young men and women who have been sentenced to short terms of imprisonment for petty, nonviolent offences. Granger said that he will not allow them to “rot in prison” and wants them to rejoin their families, to get back to school and to work and rejoin society as citizens. “Every year at Independence, I will release more young people who have committed petty offences to get back into school and get back into society. Too many of them start at the Onderneeming Primary School then graduate to the Camp Street Secondary School and University of Mazaruni,” he said referring to the names of the juvenile detention facility and the prisons.

He also saluted women and persons who seek greater inclusivity and want consultation and cooperation between the legislative and executive branches of government and not confrontation.

“National unity will bring national benefits including the elimination of one party domination, the enhancement of local, municipal and parliamentary democracy, the enlargement of multi-ethnic faith, the elimination of ethnic insecurity, the expansion of economic enterprise, the enrichment of cultural identity and the deepening of national and patriotic consciousness,” Granger declared. “We will infuse the spirit of inclusionary democracy into every municipality, every neighbourhood, every region and in the National Assembly itself,” he said.

He added that work will resume and every section of society will be engaged to realize a national programme to move Guyana forward. “We shall continue to be committed to ensuring equality for all and to protecting citizens’ fundamental rights. We need to remain committed to achieving national unity and to building bridges to all community and groups who are interested in building our country,” Granger declared.

He also identified poverty as Guyana’s greatest challenge and said that too many young and old persons are still classified as extremely poor. Poverty can be eliminated with good governance and sensible policies, the President declared while adding that the war against poverty will continue.

He also outlined the problems that youths face and said that they are in crisis but there is hope. “We shall promulgate a plan of action for youth empowerment in order to give youths faith in the future,” he said while also mentioning development for the entire country.

He said that Guyana will also strengthen ties with its neighbours starting with the Caribbean Community and including the wider Caribbean. He said that his administration met with the Secretary General of CARICOM on day one because they wanted to send a message. He said that the new Minister of Foreign Affairs has been tasked with working with every single state of CARICOM to ensure complete compliance with the Treaty of Chaguaramas which established the regional grouping. In speaking of manufacturing products from Guyana’s resources, Granger said that goods must be sold to the Caribbean if the country is to be successful.

Granger urged Guyanese to put rivalries behind and unite to fight corruption, crime and other ills. He urged cooperation for the country to make Guyana the best place in the Western Hemisphere to live. He thanked supporters as well as observers for the role they played in the recent elections. He also thanked his wife Sandra “who campaigned with me day and night in every region of this great country.”

The president said that the renewal of democracy must be celebrated. “Thank you Guyana…you did not let me down and I shall not let you down,” Granger pledged.

Earlier, eminent Guy-anese, diplomat and author Sir Shridath Ramphal recalled when Guyana was granted independence from Great Britain in 1966 and alluded to the unity of the people. “Guyana is on the cusp of a great future,” he said but warned that there are great challenges ahead, both internal and external which is why national unity must not be an empty slogan. National unity, he said, is not the end of the journey but urged that it be the beginning of a journey that never ends.

Ramphal said that it is the “solemn duty” of Guyanese to support this administration even as he spoke of Guyana’s renewal. “The task is not impossible, indeed it is in our grasp,” he declared.

Following the speeches, Secretary-General of Guyana’s National Orders Vic Persaud announced a list of Guyanese granted National Awards with former Prime Minister of Guyana Hamilton Green, historian Sister Mary Noel Menezes and former Chief Parliamentary Counsel Bryn Pollard heading the list.

The inauguration closed with a fireworks display and as the smoke morphed into a nebula-like form, the fireworks screamed and roared and exploded in dazzling displays of light. However, the rains had apparently dampened some and after starting with a bang, the fireworks display fizzled as the rockets only partially exploded and some did so quite close to the ground.

A number of foreign dignitaries were present including Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart, a representative of Cuba’s Council of Ministers, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Charles Henry Fernandez as well as a number of non-resident ambassadors including representatives from Australia, France, Indonesia the Netherlands, Spain and Argentina, among others.