Georgetown: President Dr Irfaan Ali, has announced the introduction of a national award, the Order of Democracy, in recognition of the contributions of the individuals and organisations which defended democracy during the brazen attempts by elements to rig the March 2, Regional and General Elections.
In a statement to mark one year since the dark period in Guyana’s history, the President said the names of those to be invested with the Order of Democracy will be announced later this year.
One year has passed since the General and Regional Elections of 2nd March 2020. The Guyanese people went out to vote peacefully and orderly on that day, little suspecting that, after the counting of the votes at the places of poll, a devious plot would be triggered to subvert the democratic will of the people.
“Fortunately, this plot did not succeed. The Guyanese people were determined to resist and repel the public mischief which was being orchestrated. Were it not for the vigilance, courage and resoluteness of our Guyanese people, supported by the international community and witnessed by the international election observers, our country would have returned to the dark days of tyranny,” the President said.
He acknowledged the brave men and women – of all ages, classes, ethnicities and political affiliation – who came together in a heroic battle to defend Guyana from one of its gravest threats: the attempt to trample the democratic will of the people.
The defence of this right and the fact that it enjoyed the support of a wide cross-section of fair-minded Guyanese, the President said is manifested in the resolve of Guyanese to live in a free society as “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.
“March 2nd has therefore become a celebration of our people’s stoic defence of democracy. It represents the determination of our people to maintain Guyana as a democratic state which respects the rule of law, the separation of powers and the expressed will of the people through free and fair elections,” the President said.
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