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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday May 5, 2015
ON ARRIVAL DAY…
PPP calls on all Guyanese to ensure our gains are preserved THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) salutes all Guyanese on the occasion of Arrival Day which is being observed on May 5. This is indeed a good time to reflect on the long and difficult road we have traversed over the decades and the enormous sacrifices made by our fore-parents to forge a society which today we can all be proud of. We all owe a great debt of gratitude to our fore-parents who came from India, China, Portugal and other distant lands to work as indentured labourers following the abolition of slavery. Together with our African brothers and sisters who came to the colony as slaves, they have carved a
nation and a society on the anvil of extraordinary pain and suffering. It had always been the dream of our fore-parents to forge a free, independent, cohesive and prosperous Guyana, one that the PPP is fully committed to. As we observe another Arrival Day. the PPP pledges to continue to work tirelessly to build on the achievements we have collectively made as a nation. The PPP takes this opportunity to call on all Guyanese to ensure that the social, economic and political gains we have made over the years are preserved and consolidated, especially at this time when the Guyanese people
face the polls on May 11, 2015. Today we live in what is seen as a culturally rich and diverse country. We are truly blessed with a country that has become a model of cross-cultural co-existence, despite the efforts of misguided and opportunistic elements in our society to divide our people for narrow partisan interests. The PPP is convinced that such efforts will not succeed and that Guyanese will vote on May 11 in overwhelming numbers for a continuation of the peace, progress and prosperity that we have experienced over the past twenty-three years. People’s Progressive Party
GECOM is the only entity legally mandated to provide the final official election results
THE brouhaha related to a social media post made by member of the political Opposition, James Bond, has been answered by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). Below is the full text of GECOM’s statement: The duty of declaring the final official results of the 2015 General and Regional Elections rests exclusively with the Guyana Elections Commission. Any other information provided by any source(s) other than GECOM must not be considered as legitimate or valid by the citizenry. GECOM wishes to advise the public that only official elections results announced by GECOM are to be accepted. Any other claims to results would be spurious and unofficial. GECOM will be conducting free, fair and transparent elections on May 11, 2015, and would like to appeal to all stakeholders to peacefully accept the final official results of the 2015 General and Regional Elections. GECOM is also calling on all individuals and/or groups
purporting to conduct exit polls and announcing their ‘findings’, to desist from this potentially dangerous and reckless practice, since their utterings may serve to stir unrest and create further uneasiness in an environment which is already tense. Moreover, extant electoral laws and guidelines mandate only GECOM as the sole legal authority to announce official election results in Guyana. In addition, it must be recognized that while there may be no specific Laws making Exit Polling an offence, there are Laws relating to the molestation of voters entering and exiting Polling Stations. The secrecy of the Ballot must remain sacrosanct. In any case, the reliability of results emanating from an Exit Poll is dubious, unreliable and very possibility inaccurate. GECOM is currently working unremittingly to ensure it delivers elections that are free, fair, credible and transparent. Every area of elections management is being competently and professionally managed by
committed men and women, led by an experienced group of Commissioners. Therefore, all political parties and their supporters must be cognizant and supportive of GECOM’s efforts to submit results that are accurate, and not contribute to any act that will stymie and undermine this process. The integrity of the electoral process must be measured by the professional, efficient, effective, and transparent electoral management best practices being exercised by GECOM. Further, the electoral processes are being managed by a cadre of trained professional staff, and are being monitored by a combination of renowned international and local observers. As a consequence, political parties and their supporters must uphold GECOM’s demand that the May 11, 2015 election is conducted in a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere, and that the final official results announced by GECOM are treated with respect and accepted by all stakeholders.
MESSAGE FOR ARRIVAL DAY
President, Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha
Dr. Vindhya Vasini Persaud By Dr. Vindhya Vasini Persaud
EVERY year on May 5th, Guyana celebrates the arrival of East Indians to this country. Guyana, a former colony in which the British sugar plantations dominated the economy, recruited East Indians from India to have a reliable, sustained labour force. Between the years 1838-1917, two hundred and thirty-nine thousand, nine hundred and nine Indian workers arrived in the then British Guiana. Even a casual look into history reveals the inhuman conditions, oppression and indignity suffered by our forebears. Life for them under the plantocracy was full of oppressive actions breaching every norm of human rights and replete with experiences of miseries which were not
their expectations when they boarded the HESPERUS AND WITHBY on January 13, 1838. The fact that they surmounted must be attributed to their unflinching faith in their religion. With the arrival of East Indians to the Crown Colony, the sugar industry progressed by leaps and bounds and, instead of importing, Guyana began exporting sugar. With the passage of time, the indentured labourers as they were designated, entered the field of business and as time passed, were qualified in the major professions of law, medicine, engineering and indeed almost every other field. Indentureship opened a new chapter for Guyana, unfolding the brilliant Indian culture, which was maintained, sustained and practiced. The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has been integral in the promotion and sustenance of numerous facets of that glorious culture. Over, the years, our annual arrival celebrations have reflected on the traditions of the past while celebrating our achievements. Indentureship is an integral part of our history and the occasion ought to be celebrated with a national outlook. The arrival of Indians to Guyana brought with it a culture, a way of life and religion. These have contributed to the cultural richness of this land and must be guarded and zealously preserved and should never be seen as divisive. As we celebrate
the 177th anniversary of our forebears, it is mandatory for us to reflect and contemplate on the significance of this historic occasion. On the 5th of May, we shall remember them and applaud their unparalleled contributions to this land and the legacy they bequeathed to us. The Sabha held beautiful and successful celebrations across the country organised by its Praants in Essequibo, Upper, Central and East Berbice and West Berbice characterised by spectacular cultural presentations, impressive exhibitions, traditional foods and large supportive audiences. The Sabha would like to congratulate all its Praants and the performers and thank the extremely supportive audiences. The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s West Coast Demerara Praant takes great pleasure in inviting you and your family to join them today, 5th May, at 6:00pm at the Oceanview Mandir Compound, WCD for a grand Arrival Day celebration featuring performances by Dharmic Ntitya Sangh, Vishalie Sukram – winner of E-networks Emerging Voices competition, Aamir Khan, Mona Gowkarran, Rekha Singh, Sookrane Boodhoo and other talented singers, musicians and dance groups. Admission is free and there will be lots of tasty dishes, 7 curry and sweets, exhibits, mehendi and more. No alcohol is allowed. Happy Arrival Day!
PNCR SAYS…
Racial harmony, tolerance and understanding essential to further develop Guyana – as party salutes contribution of Guyanese of East Indian decent on 177th anniversary of their arrival here THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has joined all like-minded groups, here at home and in the Diaspora, in celebrating the 177th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians in Guyana. “This occasion offers the opportunity for the nation as a whole to recognise the important role that our East Indian ancestors and fellow compatriots have played in the development of Guyana,” the PNCR said in a message to mark the
occasion. The Party said it also believes this is an opportunity for the nation to understand that “we all share a common destiny” and that racial harmony, tolerance and understanding are essential to the further and overall development of this country. The development of Guyana can no longer be deferred, it said. “It is, therefore, essential that all stakeholders, especially political parties, and all relevant social groups and or-
ganisations make a firm commitment to exercise honesty, maturity and good judgement in order that this nation can put an end to racism, which has often stymied the development of our society and nation,” the PNCR posited. It therefore, calls on all our citizens to reflect on the significance of this occasion and to take to heart the lesson that racial harmony and understanding are the keys to our survival and long term development.