Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1694834221933.pdf (Guyana)
1st 17:00 Monday 1st Sitting February 1983 (Absent – on Leave) (Absent) 2 J.P., M.P.

(Absence – on Leave) 3 4 1983-02-07 17:00 hrs National Assembly PROCLAMATION SUMMONING THE SESSION OF PARLIAMENT The Speaker: The Clerk of the National Assembly will read the Proclamation which was issued by His Excellency the President.

The Clerk read the Proclamation as follows: PROCLAMATION By the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.

(Sgd.)

L.F.S.
Burnham President Whereas by Proclamation, dated 21st January, 1983, issued under article (1) of the Constitution, Parliament was prorogued with effect from that date: Now, therefore, in pursuance of the powers conferred upon me by article 69 (1) of the Constitution, I do hereby appoint the Parliament Chamber, Public Buildings, Georgetown, Guyana, as the place where a session of Parliament shall be held at 5 o'clock in the afternoon on the 7th February, 1983, as the time when such session shall begin.
Given under my hand and the Seal of the Co- operative Republic of Guyana at Georgetown, Guyana, this 21st day of January, 1983, in the thirteenth year of the Republic.

By the President's Command.

(Sgd) C.E.

Douglas Head of the Presidental Secretariat."


PRAYERS The Clerk read the following Prayer: "Almighty God, we, who are here gathered together, do most humbly beseech Thee to guide us in all our consultations, so that we may together build a land where knowledge is free, where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, and where words come from the depth of truth.
Grant us, O God, Thine aid and guidance, so that we may deal justly, with the several causes that come before us, laying aside all private interests, prejudices and personal preference, so that the result of our counsels may be to the glory of Thy Blessed Name, the maintenance of true religion, the preservation of justice, the safety, honour and happiness of the President and the peace and prosperity of Guyana.
Grant us, O God, the vision so to lead, that all the people of this fair land may enter into that state of brotherhood and unity, where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever-widening thought and action."

5 1983-02-07 17:00 – 17:05 hrs SUSPENSION OF SITTING The Speaker: Comrades and Hon.

Members, the sitting of the National Assembly will now be suspended and will be resumed on the arrival of His Excellency the President and Cde.

Viola Burnham.
Viola Burnham.

Sitting suspended at 17:05 hrs 17:38 hrs On resumption – ENTRY OF THE PRESIDENT AND CDE.

VIOLA BURNHAM Their Excellencies, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Cde.

Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, O.E., S.C., and Cde.

Viola Burnham were announced.

Their Excellencies entered the Chamber and were received by the Assembly.
WELCOME TO THE PRESIDENT The Speaker: Your Excellency The Comrade President and Comrade Viola Burnham, on behalf of the Members of the National Assembly and myself, I extend a welcome to you here on the occasion of the commencement of the Third Session of our Fourth Parliament.

I would now wish to take the liberty of stating here, Cde.

President, that during his year, you will be marking two important events in your life.
Thirteen days from today you will be attaining the age of 60 years and on the 18th of May this year you will have been for half of your life, that is 30 years, a Parliamentarian.

I would like to take this opportunity with your presence here and that of Cde.

Viola, as another occasion will not be afforded this Parliament, of extending our congratulations and our best wishes to you not only for these occasions but also for your 16th wedding anniversary, which you and Cde.

Viola will shortly be celebrating.


[Applause.]

May good health and strength continue to be with you as you continue to lead and to guide us.

Comrades and members of the National Assembly, His Excellency the President will now address the Assembly.

6 1983-02-07 17:38 – 18:15 hrs ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT His Excellency the President: Cde.
Speaker, since this is the first occasion in the year 1983 that I have had the opportunity of meeting the Members of Parliament here assembled, I would like to seize the opportunity for wishing you and all Members of Parliament a successful 1983, a happy 1983, based on your performance and your leadership during the year.

As our Parliament enters its third year the world seems to be in disarray and teetering on the brink of disaster, if not of a holocaust.
We read of missiles, costing billions, whose destruction capacity causes the most fertile imagination to boggle – and this is a world where millions of human beings are debilitated as a result of malnutrition and further millions die of starvation.

We learn that even in rich countries people have died from carbon monoxide poisoning because they have nowhere to live but in their cars.

We are informed that the G.N.P.


of the United States was down 1.8 percent in 1982, as against 1981, while the industrial output of the U.S.S.R. was 40 percent short of target and grain production over 25 percent short.

We hear that some countries' due debt repayments in 1983 range from 117-195 percent of the value of their exports; and some of these are oil producers and exporters!
7 1983-02-07 17:38 – 18:15 hrs 8 1983-02-07 17:38 – 18:15 hrs 9 1983-02-07 17:38 – 18:15 hrs 10 1983-02-07 17:38 – 18:15 hrs 11 1983-02-07 17:38 – 18:15 hrs 12 1983-02-07 17:38 – 18:15 hrs 13 1983-02-07 17:38 – 18:15 hrs 14 1983-02-07 17:38 – 18:15 hrs 15 1983-02-07 17:38 – 18:15 hrs 16 1983-02-07 17:38 – 18:15 hrs adaptability 17 1983-02-07 17:38 – 18:15 hrs His Excellency presented a copy of the Address to the Speaker.

THANKS BY THE SPEAKER The Speaker: Cde.


President, as I have remarked on similar previous occasions, we have missed your presence here as a Member of the National Assembly particularly your contributions and your oratory and debating skills.

Nevertheless, it appears as if our hope is coming to pass for we note that your Excellency is coming here at least once a year to address us.
We look forward to these occasions for it is at such times that we receive from you as Head of State and Head of Government on-the-spot guidance in the course we should pursue.

Today, in this time of economic problems, not only in Guyana but throughout the world, your presence here and the pronouncements you have made will certainly be of benefit to us in our tasks.

We will be studying and will consider your address and will shortly be debating it in the National Assembly.

Cde.
Cde.

President, we thank you for coming and addressing us today and we also thank Cde.

Viola Burnham for accompanying you and being with us.

WITHDRAWAL OF THE PRESIDENT AND CDE.

VIOLA BURNHAM Their Excellences withdrew from the Chamber.

The Speaker: Comrades and Hon.

Members of the Assembly, after the adjournment of the Assembly, you are all invited guests to joint me for a drink.
Resolved, "That this Assembly do now adjourn until Thursday 1983-02-10 at 14:00 hrs ADJOURNMENT [The Vice-President, Party and State Matters.]

Adjourned accordingly at 18:15 hrs 18