There is just over a week left for 2023 and with the advent of the New Year has always been a time when people reflect on the past year, perhaps what they have achieved in terms of their personal and professional goals, and what they intend to accomplish in the coming year. In Guyana, we have always treated New Year as a time when we cleanse our houses and get our affairs in order, such as financial and business, and even familial; so that, for the rest of the year, we would be able to accomplish what we did not manage to accomplish in the previous year.
The New Year is also a time when we make resolutions. Many have quipped that the New Year resolutions do not last for more than a week or so, but we have known examples of New Year resolutions being very creative and helpful, and we think that everyone could benefit from this experience. It is important that we set realistic targets/goals, and work hard towards achieving them.
In our New Year resolutions, we can do no better than to follow what the famous Roman Philosopher-Emperor Marcus Aurelius taught us. In his work, Marcus Aurelius tackled issues like how we should live our lives, what justice means, and how we can live with the knowledge that someday we will no longer exist. He taught us that we must treat every day as if it were the last day of our lives. This means that we must work to the optimum to make a positive difference in our communities and country, and maximise our time on earth. We believe that his reflections are still relevant, especially at this time of the year.
The PPP/C Government has been in office for just over three years, and has sustained its brilliant start, since it has determined never to allow dictatorship to return, following what happened in Guyana during the 2020 General and Regional Elections. It is providing relief to households, stimulating small businesses, negotiating with large foreign investors, and developing every sector.
The present political milieu in Guyana clearly indicates that democracy and development go hand in hand, and that Guyana has embarked on a period of development which would transform the country into one of the wealthiest, best-governed and most democratic countries in the world.
It is hoped that the citizenry: meaning all stakeholders, including the Government and other parliamentary parties, the business community, and ordinary citizens, would focus on moving the country forward. Our past experiences are enough to convince us that we cannot risk going through any period of instability.
That said, in spite of the present uncertainties as a result of the world’s economic hardships, and the lingering variants from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been stuck with us since 2020, this year should be seen as a year of renewed hope in our country and all that it has to offer.
With the growing oil sector, our leaders must use this resource to help create the right environment to allow citizens to be able to live in a free, happy, and prosperous country, where everyone could be given the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Our politicians should recommit themselves to working with each other for the benefit of the entire nation.
We hope that this new year which is just a few days away would bring happiness, peace, and prosperity to every Guyanese, both at home and abroad.
