GUYANA’S NEW PRESIDENT David Granger says his country and the Caribbean can build one of the strongest economies in the globe if the necessary integration becomes a reality.
“We need that integration movement because if we are divided, people are going to pick us off one by one. If we are divided, people are going to separate us and prevent us from being strong,” he said.
Granger was speaking at a breakfast at Bubba’s Sports Bar yesterday to allow scores of Guyanese to meet and greet the president who was elected in May, and was in Barbados to participate in the just-concluded CARICOM summit.
“We in Guyana have sufficient land that if every single Caribbean country was put together and put into Guyana, we still have space left over.
“We are going to take control of our resources, our timber, our gold, our diamonds, our bauxite, our petroleum and make sure that Guyanese will never have to be poor again,” Granger said.
However, he noted the now revitalised border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela had implications for the Guyanese economy.
He also promised Guyanese living in Barbados better representation and better opportunities for them to invest in their homeland.
Earlier, loud cheers and applause rang out as Granger arrived at Bubba’s. Supporters waved Guyanese flags, while others wore T-shirts bearing the flag and the A Partnership for National Unity logo. A smiling Granger said to them: “It looks like Georgetown.”
Granger had attended a church service at St Matthias Anglican Church before heading to the restaurant where he had breakfast with consul general to Barbados Michael Brotherson, members of the Guyanese Association of Barbados (GAB) and other Guyanese supporters.
One of the organisers, GAB founding member Joyann Hooper-Beckles, dubbed it Breakfast With The President. She said it was pulled together “in less than 24 hours”. (LK)
