Guyana’s prez: Unification paramount to prosperity
By Tangerine Clarke
President of Guyana, Dr.
Irfaan Ali told diasporans that
they play an integral role in
helping to build a better Guyana,
and added that his government
is vigorously pursuing
policies to ensure that they
are involved in the process,
during his address to a May
22,Virtual Diaspora Conference
that attracted more than 500
participants.
“As we navigate into the
future, we would like the hands
of the Diaspora to be a key element
in the new Guyana that
will bring with it great opportunities,
great prosperity. The
unification and coming together
of the Guyanese people is
paramount to the prosperity we
will achieve,” he added.
“I want to take this opportunity
to thank all of you sincerely
for your interest, your
time, your dedication, and your
commitment. Indeed, during
very difficult times, it is remittances
and the contribution of
the Diaspora that saw many
Guyanese breaking the barriers
of extreme poverty,” said the
politician.
“It is the remittances from
Guyanese in the Diaspora that
contributed significantly to
the eradication of many social
problems. It is your commitment
over the years that have
helped us during many difficult
times,” Ali said.
He said that influence,
investment, information, identity,
and integration are pillars
of the Diaspora engagement
that are important to nation
building, and called on overseas
Guyanese to use these qualities
to help develop the lives of their
fellow Guyanese.
Ali noted the challenges the
country is facing due to the
coronavirus and asked diasporans
to explain to relatives and
friends the importance of being
vaccination.
“It is not mandatory, but
it is necessary for normalcy
to return and the country to
move forward,” said the president,
adding that the gesture
would be greatly appreciated.
He added, “What we want to
achieve is not only prosperity
for the people in an economic
and monetary way, but for us
to leave lasting prosperity. We
have to have social development,
political development
Caribbean L 32 ife, MAY 28-JUNE 3, 2021
and economic advancement.”
In this regard, he acknowledged
that key areas need to
and will be addressed, including
access to healthcare, education,
security, infrastructure,
and access to affordable
and reliable energy.
“We’re talking about worldclass
education and health
systems for all Guyanese, and
included in that too are plans
and a strategy for investment
that would see healthcare services
for members of the Diaspora
too.”
He revealed that work has
already commenced on a comprehensive
strategy to address
security, as this is an important
factor in the Diaspora’s
decision-making process.
President Ali promised job
security for skilled members
of the Diaspora, who are interested
in taking up positions in
the government, and assured
public servants, at home that
there is no threat to their livelihood.
“Professionals and true public
servants, you have nothing
to fear; but there is a line
between professional and political,
and I have made it very
clear we have to make choices.
If you are a politician, don’t
hide it under being a public
servant. If you are a politician
and you pursue that route,
then you must understand that
you are pursuing a political
career.”
President of Guyana Dr. Irfaan Ali. Government of Guyana
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