He said that from 1970 when Guyana became a Republic to date have been years of struggle against poverty but the eradication of this scourge will be realised more quickly if Guyanese resolve to respect each other and work harder towards national unity.

He observed that the disrespect for human life and law and order and other forms of extremism had been rampant over the past year.

These developments, however, represented a trap which if fallen into will ensure that progress towards a better quality of life for all Guyanese will be unnecessarily and unduly delayed, he said.

"Crime, attempts at divisiveness, attempts at isolationism, are all threats to our survival. We cannot continue this way.

"We must resist this challenge to our survival", the Health Minister appealed.

"Unity must be the most important message as we enter our 34th year as a Republic.

"Unity is the only way forward and each Guyanese must portray it at the individual level in their everyday lives. That way development will come sooner rather than later," he stressed.

The flag-raising ceremony was held outside the head office of the Regional Democratic Council at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice on Sunday morning.

Regional Chairman, Mr. Harrynarine Baldeo said the RDC was satisfied with its performance in its varied activities of local government over the past year.

He congratulated staff and councillors for their support in making the year of achievements possible.

The ceremony was preceded by a march past of Police Officers and ranks stationed in West Berbice.