News Americas, GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Fri. May 27, 2016: The days of the “Guyana bench” and immigration tensions between Barbados and Guyana were forgotten Thursday, as the country’s Prime Minister, Freundel Stuart, was conferred with Guyana’s second highest honor.
Guyana President David Granger, who is also Chancellor of the Orders of Guyana, conferred the insignia of the Order of Roraima on Stuart on May 26th at State House in Georgetown, the country’s capital.
Stuart was bestowed with the honor in recognition of his support for the rights of Small Island and Low Coastal Developing States, his advocacy for CARICOM’s demand for reparations for the citizens of the Caribbean Region and his contribution to the reduction of the impact of climate change in the Region.
President Granger in his remarks said that the Barbados Prime Minister also distinguished himself as, “a doughty defender of the territorial integrity of Guyana and Belize and the maritime space of all Caribbean states.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Stuart said that he received the honor with much gratitude and humility. “It is an important moment for me. I have been a follower of Guyana for many, many years. I’ve been influenced quite a lot by what is happening in Guyana over the years. I was a great admirer of the late President of Guyana, Forbes Burnham and therefore to have been the recipient of this award this morning is a real humbling but delightful experience,” he said.
Other awardees included: Ambassador Ronald Austin, Director of Edward B. Beharry and Company Limited; Inderjeet Beharry, Former Opposition Leader, Robert Corbin; Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards; Consumer Advocate, Pat Dial; Dr. Carl Hanoman, Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana; Harold Lutchman, Director General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Audrey Waddell and Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland among others.
