Pres Granger celebrated at gala 70th birthday bash
July 16, 2015 By
Amid much pomp and ceremony, Guyana’s Eighth Executive President, David Arthur Granger celebrated his 70th birthday on Wednesday at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Headquarters among friends, family, Government officials, and members of the diplomatic community who all joined in wishing him a happy birthday and a prosperous term as President of Guyana.
The event started off with a light cocktail reception where friends and family mingled as they awaited the arrival of His Excellency. In a much familiar environment, elegantly decorated with the colours green and yellow, President Granger sat at a head table with his wife, Sandra; his daughter Han and his son-in-law, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin; his grandchildren, and his nephew as well-wishers took to the podium to shower him with the warmest of birthday greetings.
Army Chief-of-Staff Mark Phillips gives a token of appreciation to President Granger on his birthday
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo did the honours of opening the floor as he made the first speech and wished his friend and partner in governance a happy birthday. “I know for sure that it is a good day for him, coming after so long of a certain ruling by a certain court that you can go for three terms as a President. What a gift for your 70th birthday.
I know that Lord Byron has said that your hair is grey, but not your age and I can assure you that by the time he comes to take up the challenge for the third term, the hair will remain grey, he won’t be bald,” Nagamootoo jovially proclaimed.
President Granger and his wife, Sandra share a birthday smooch before the cameras
He went on to say, “For me I believe that these 70 years are star studded years of someone who had laboured for Guyana as a servant and continues to labour in this difficult moment of challenges of all sorts as a soldier… we have in Granger, not only someone who is prepared to take the Guyana cause to the farthest part of Guyana but he has the stamina and he has what it takes on his 70th birthday,” he concluded as he proposed a toast to the Guyanese leader.
Following those wishes was another by Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman, retired Major General Norman Mc Lean, who on behalf of the Private Sector in Guyana, expressed confidence in the President to continue to take the economy forward, although 70 years old. Other friends and business persons took the pleasure of wishing the President a happy birthday just before the cutting of one of his birthday cakes.
In accepting the well wishes, President Granger thanked everyone for their devotion and hard work in making his 70th birthday a memorable one. “It is a sort of thanksgiving for me today and I would like to thank everyone who helped to make this function special…,” he said, particularly thanking his wife for her love and support throughout his struggles and successes. The Head of State reflected on his days serving in the Army and he pledged to serve his country with the same will and determination.
Granger, after being Opposition Leader for a number of years, vying for the opportunity to lead the country forward, finally achieved his dream when he was sworn in as President of Guyana on May 16 after the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) were declared winners of the 2015 General and Regional Elections. Quite conveniently and much to the pleasure of many, Granger’s birthday coincides with the fourth anniversary of the formation of APNU; therefore, as the country celebrated its President’s birthday, it also celebrated the birth of a coalition that has so often vowed to ensure betterment of the people of Guyana, regardless of race or political affiliation.
Government Ministers wishing President David Granger a happy birthday
Born in Georgetown, David Granger attended Queen’s College, Guyana’s elite and prestigious school like the former Presidents Forbes Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, Samuel Hinds, as well as Hamilton Green and scholars like Walter Rodney and Rupert Roopnaraine. After leaving Queen’s College, where he was a member of the Queen’s College Cadet Corps, Granger joined the GDF as an Officer Cadet in 1965, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1966.
He received his professional military training at the School of Infantry and the Mons Officer Cadet School in the United Kingdom, the Jungle Warfare Instruction Centre in Brazil; and the Army Command and Staff College in Nigeria, respectively. He eventually became commander of the GDF in 1979, and was promoted to the rank of Brigadier. Granger was appointed as National Security Adviser to the President in 1990[1] and retired from the military service in 1992.
