Frank Lautenberg: “I rise to commemorate the May 27, 1997 31st anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Guyana. The word…”

“I rise to commemorate the May 27, 1997 31st anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Guyana. The word ``Guyana'' is an indigenous word that means land of many waters. But Guyana is also a land of many peoples, with East Indians, Africans, Chinese, Amer-Indians, and Europeans counted among its ancestors. Guyana is also a country that embraces freedom of religion, which allows Christians, Muslims, and Hindus to worship side by side. My colleagues may be aware that Guyana achieved independence and observed its first free and fair election in 1992, after more than three centuries of British, French, and Dutch colonialism. Guyana's first constitution bore the influence of British legal traditions, and former President Jimmy Carter supervised the team of international observers to guarantee the fairness of the 1992 elections. Guyana's three decades of unpopular and repressive rule slowed economic progress, but Guyanese are working to overcome these hurdles. I hope that they will succeed. Guyanese-Americans have much to be proud of. Their history is rich, and I hope the future of Guyana will be bright.”