His assurance in a message to the Guyanese Diaspora on the occasion of Guyana’s 37th Independence anniversary today comes amid joint Police/Army operations to break a wave of criminal activities, including kidnappings and murders, gripping the country since February 23, 2002.

The President also said economic prospects are “looking up”, in keeping with the Government’s vision and programmes.

“The vision and programmes of my Government are for an economically prosperous country, a cohesive nation, and a satisfied people living in safety and harmony…,” he explained.

The Government last month presented a $72.9Bln national budget themed ‘Confronting the challenges: Staying on course for a prosperous Guyana’ with the aim of putting the nation on a progressively higher growth path. Its focus is on reducing poverty, creating jobs and investments and addressing crime and security.

The President noted that the Government’s programmes are designed to help Guyanese “unleash their creative efforts for self-actualisation and to the benefit of their communities and country”.

He advised that political, social, and economic prospects and expanded opportunities will help Guyanese commence or continue to play their parts in the processes of nation building.

“My Government’s efforts at building cohesion in the context of our multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society and free from the scourge of ethnic conflicts are proceeding apace with the contributions of all the stakeholders in our country,” he added.

An Ethnic Relations Commission was recently established to promote harmony and good relations between persons of the various ethnic groups; to promote the elimination of all forms of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity; to investigate complaints of racial discrimination and to promote equal access by persons of all ethnic groups to all public or other services and facilities.

The President said the pursuit of inclusiveness and the necessity of being constructively engaged with the main opposition People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) and other stakeholders have been acknowledged.

“The recent signing of a Communiqué to this intent demonstrates our determination to institutionalise progressive and advantageous governance practices and constitutional arrangements. This is definitely a forward leap,” he noted.

President Jagdeo and newly-appointed Leader of the Opposition and PNC/R, Mr. Robert Corbin earlier this month began a long over-due and much anticipated process of ‘constructive engagement’, signing a communiqué to resolve issues of national importance. The collaboration ended a 14-month impasse between the two sides.

Extending independence greetings and best wishes to the Diaspora, he said those old enough remember the sense of jubilation that marked that occasion in 1966, when the country’s symbols of nationhood permanently replaced those of the British colonial power.

Over these years, Guyanese have made appreciable progress, confronted and overcome untold challenges and undertaken major reforms - constitutional, political, social, and economic. These were aimed to guarantee that they go forward as a cohesive multiethnic society that is home for all.

But the President noted: “We have not realized all our hopes and aspirations over these years.”

“In the arduous task of nation building, 37 years is a comparatively short time. The slow process of reinventing ourselves and re-engineering our society in response to new domestic realities, and unprecedented global challenges continues. This is the solid foundation upon which an enduring and prosperous Guyana must be reared,” he reasoned.