Guyana’s 56th Republic Anniversary: “Every Guyanese must defend our Republic” – President Ali

…Republic anniversary “a moment of national pride” – PM

President Dr Irfaan Ali has said that it is the responsibility of every Guyanese to defend the Republic status of Guyana against all threats while equally forging a nation that is truly free. He made these remarks in his message to commemorate Guyana’s 56th anniversary as a Cooperative Republic – something he said was achieved after the country severed the remaining constitutional threads that bound it to a distant monarchy and boldly stepped forward to chart its own course as a Cooperative Republic. According to the Head of State, February 23, 1970, was far more than a simple change in legal status. He said it was and remains, the thunderous declaration of the Guyanese people’s definitive assertion of their sovereignty. “On that historic day, we declared with one voice, that sovereignty does not trickle down from a throne; it surges upward from the collective heart of the nation. It resides in the will of the Guyanese people.” “With this seismic shift came an equally profound shift in responsibility. If sovereignty now flows from the people, then it is the people’s sacred duty to be its ultimate guardians. The people are the sentinels of the country’s freedom. It is the responsibility of every single Guyanese to defend our Republic against the insidious forces that would seek to stifle our democracy or to snatch our territory,” he stated. President Ali emphasised that all Guyanese must continue to stand united in defiance against those who would return the country to the days of unrepresentative Government and those who seek to covet the country’s sovereign territory. To this end, the Guyanese Leader posited that the defence of the Republic is not merely a shield against external or internal threats. “We must equally defend our Republic by forging a nation that is truly free—free from the shackles of poverty, free from the blight of ignorance and free from the chains of inequality. Our charge is to construct a prosperous homeland where the bountiful resources of our nation are harnessed for the benefit of all; a land where the wealth generated from our agriculture, gold, our bauxite, our forests, and now our vast oil and gas, becomes a shared blessing,” he added. The Head of State went onto outline that this Republic status should not be a static monument to the past but rather a living, breathing promise for the future and the ground upon which dreams are built under the unifying banner of ‘One Guyana’. He said, “Let our One Guyana neither be exclusively inward-looking, cowering in the shadows of parochial fears and tribal suspicions, nor outward-fearing, trembling before the winds of global change or the ambitions of those who wish to covet our sovereignty. Instead, let us stand tall as a people confident in our identity, proud of our heritage and secure in our sovereignty – a nation that opens its arms to the world while keeping its feet firmly planted on Guyanese soil.”

“On this, the 56th anniversary of our cherished Republic, I call upon every son and daughter of this soil to look upon our Golden Arrowhead with renewed pride. Let us recommit ourselves, with passion and purpose, to the ideals of a strong, stable, free, united and prosperous Guyana. Let us fashion a republic so free, so united, and so prosperous that it will stand as an unshakeable legacy for generations yet unborn.”

National Pride
Meanwhile, Prime Minister (PM), Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, in his Republic Day message said, “This is a moment of national pride when we celebrate our progress as a nation and reflect on how far we have come as a Co-operative Republic.”
Citing this year’s Mashramani theme, “Expressing Our Culture Through Innovation and Creativity,” the PM said it speaks powerfully to who Guyanese are as a people and who they are becoming. He noted that it recognises the Guyanese culture is very much alive and well. “Our culture keeps evolving and is continuously shaped by the talent and ingenuity of Guyanese from every background. Guyana’s rich cultural heritage, rooted in the traditions of a vibrant mix of ethnicities, has always been a source of national strength. Today, we celebrate the preservation of these traditions as well as the new and exciting ways in which Guyanese are reimagining and expressing them through art, music, fashion, literature, technology and entrepreneurship,” the PM stated. According to Phillips, innovation and creativity are essential drivers of development. He added that they fuel new industries, create jobs and open doors for young people to turn passion into purpose.
“When we invest in creativity, we invest in the future of our nation. As we celebrate today, I urge that we recommit ourselves to building a society that nurtures talent, supports innovation and provides equal opportunities for all Guyanese to thrive. Let us continue to create spaces where ideas are welcomed, differences are respected, and excellence is encouraged,” he stated. Phillips went onto note that his Government remains steadfast in its commitment to good governance, transparency and inclusive development. He said they are working to build a strong and diversified economy, while ensuring that the benefits of progress are shared equitably among the people. “So, as we revel in the colours, rhythms and creativity of Mashramani, may we remember that each expression of culture is also an expression of hope in our people, confidence in our abilities and belief in the limitless potential of Guyana,” the PM posited.