Last Updated on Sunday, 17 May 2015, 16:02 by GxMedia
by Zena Henry
Several big names were present at the May 16 swearing- in of new Guyanese President, Retired Brigadier, David Granger as he took the oath to lead the country to the best of his ability. Among those names were famous West Indies cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul and family, former Labour Minister Nanda Gopaul; who along with former Natural Resource Minister Robert Persaud were among the first from the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) camp to concede a defeat at the 2015 General and Regional Elections.
Another notable face was construction giant and prominent business owner of BK International, Brian Tiwari, who under the former Administration was said to have significantly gained as he is among the most well known and largest construction firms in the country.
It was under the PPP Administration that calls were made for Chanderpaul to be conferred with the Order of Roraima, bearing his outstanding record as a cricketer and his commitment to the game; having represented the West Indies for more than 20 years and continuing. It was also under the PPP that the batsman had a street named after him.
When asked of his capacity at the May 16 swearing in, Gopaul said he was invited and is present to witness the national event. Tiwari made his appearance at Parliament, sitting in the verandah on the side holding the diplomat community. He and Persaud attended a Coalition victory party held Friday May 15, in the vicinity of Roxanne Burnham Gardens.
The former PPP ministers had suggested the PPP concede defeat at the 2015 polls and suggested that the party work with the new government for inclusionary governance in a bid to unite the six races of the country.
Gopaul had said he was disturbed by the PPP not conceding a lost, urging that it is the best way to demonstrate democracy. Persaud on his Facebook page had described the change of government, “a grand, historical opportunity to change the paradigm of how we govern and make everyone feel truly a part of the future as we march to 50 years of independence.”
