Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, today, urged the residents of Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three) to use the occasion of the country’s 51st Independence Anniversary to embrace each other irrespective of cultural, social or political differences and to work along with the Government to build a unified, socially cohesive society.
Minister Joseph Harmon delivering the feature address at the 51st Independence Flag Raising ceremony at the Region Three Regional Democratic Council.
The Minister, who was at the time addressing residents and regional officials at the Region’s Flag Raising ceremony, held at the Regional Democratic Council’s Office at Vreed-en-Hoop, said that the country has come a long way but there is much more to be done, particularly in achieving national unity, where respect and appreciation of each other, regardless of the diversity, is present. This, he said, will significantly aid in the country’s development.
“We can only truly be united as a people if we understand and appreciate each other in all our diversity. True national unity has to be based on mutual respect, mutual trust and common understanding. At the basis of all this must be an appreciation of our respective histories including our struggles as separate groups before our Independence. I am convinced that our genuine appreciation of each other’s values and norms along with mutual trust and respect would help to bring about the social cohesion and national unity without which we would never realise our true potential as a nation. We will never develop by half or by fractions,” Minister Harmon said.
The State Minister noted that the thrust towards the establishment of an independent nation was a bold political decision but more than that, he said, it was an act of faith on the part of the country’s founding fathers and their conviction, that despite the differences and diversity, Guyanese would rise to the occasion and establish a united and prosperous nation. To this end, the Minister said that the Government is firm in its conviction that Guyana can only become a truly developed and prosperous nation on the basis of national unity.