New Year resolutions
Stabroek News
January 1, 2005
Manzoor Nadir: Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce
'I do not normally make new year resolutions. I feel that what resolution you can make for January 1, you can do on any other day. What January 1 does is provide us with the beginning of a new period from which we can gauge how well we need to do in this new period. Thus professionally, I always resolve to make the new year a more successful period than the last. What I am resolving to do in 2005 is to work harder and to be more tolerant and respectful of other views. I resolve to ensure that the nation gets the best of the services I can provide. Have a happy and prosperous New Year, Guyana.'
Raphael Trotman: PNCR MP/ attorney-at-law
'Generally, I make long-term resolutions (5-10 years). Most of what I had resolved to do in the past, I did. Rather than measure every day by the year, I gave myself more time to realise my resolutions. In terms of the coming year, I have bracketed the resolutions in categories of personal, professional and political. Personally, I strive to always be a better person. Profes-sionally, I hope that the law firm sees improvements. As for politically, I hope to be more attuned with what is happening politically in our country and to make good and informed decisions. Overall, I hope the fate of Guyana improves for 2005. One thing that stands out right now is the fire service and its ability to respond better to fires. I have always had one wish and that is, to be able help all the people who approach me every day asking for my help.'
Brigadier Edward Collins: GDF Chief of Staff
'I don't make new year resolutions. I used to growing up, but not any more. However, I have plans for 2005. I resolve to re-commit myself to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), and to ensure that the soldiers are well led.'
Margaret Lawrence: actress/former media practitioner
'Well, I always say that I am going to lose weight. Next year I hope to start exercising. I am also moving on with my professional life in a different direction. Resolutions that I have made in the past all started out good in January month, but after then things sort of ended.'
Robert Persaud: Information Liaison to the President
'It is not my wish to make new year's resolutions willy-nilly. The temptation of the year ending, thus offering one the opportunity to think about possible accomplishments for the coming months is hard to resist. I hardly make more than two new resolutions every year. For 2004, I resolved to work on completing my Master's degree and lose weight (no defined amount). How have I fared? I have stuck to the task of working to complete my Master's degree. Regrettably, I did not lose weight. (Now I am too scared to climb on the scale lest it confirms my suspicions of gaining weight instead!) Resolutions for 2005 are only three: (1) To serve my boss more efficiently so that I get fewer phone calls at odd times and unholy hours; (2) To exercise more to lose 10 pounds (no major diet plan yet). (3) A very private one.'
Deborah Backer: attorney-at-law
'I resolve to be more efficient with respect to my job in the coming year. I also plan to spend more time with my mother in 2005 and lose some weight. For the couple of months after making resolutions, you would observe that certain things are in the breach.'
Al Creighton: Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Guyana
'I don't make new year's resolutions. This is one of the many conventions that do not appeal to me. So I will not be making any now. I might try to attack things that I need to change or improve at any time of the year. I don't always have successes. Nevertheless, there are things within my control that I do plan to try to change in the months ahead, but these are things that I need to do, they are not new year resolutions. In my professional life, I have encountered areas and I [have] heard complaints about the areas in which the university provides unsatisfactory service. I intend to use my present position to do what is within my power to improve the quality of this service. Before the end of my tenure in this post, I intend to try to speed up the completion of pieces and to turn some of the university's present strategic policies into positive concrete action. Some of this requires improvement in my personal discipline and I intend to try to complete unfinished thesis of research work that daily administration routine displaces. Physical fitness was a good feeling and I intend to return to some discipline in that area since I have been previously involved in sports at highly competitive levels. I was a university champion in athletics, a football captain and I had some considerable achievement in hockey.'
Sonia Noel: Fashion designer
'For me, I plan goals personally and professionally. Then I work towards achieving them. I have so many plans for my label, Mariska's Designs for 2005, but I really wish that we continue to do well. Some of my goals are long term, and having made them in the past I am still working on them. As for my family, the focus of which is on my two beautiful daughters, I wish us lots of love in 2005. Another thing is that I have been trying to incorporate exercise into my life. I hope to hit the gym in the coming year.'
Vincent Alexander: Director, PNCR Elections Committee
'In the past decade I have not made any resolutions. I take life one day at a time, that is in the context of things generally. The coming year will be the same. But, my plans are more long term. It may be coincidental that my plans for 2005 have unfolded around this time.'
Ron Robinson: Actor
'I have made resolutions in the past that I have kept. Once I made a resolution that I wouldn't make any more resolutions. But, for the year 2005 I resolve to have a new home. I hope my company [Prime Time Advertising] has its best year yet. I hope to do more productions in 2005. I also plan to reduce the extent of my involvement in certain things. I feel stretched out sometimes, but I find it really hard to say no to people. I want to stay as stress-free as possible. In the coming year, I plan to say no a little more. But, I will not say no to Stabroek News when you contact me at the end of 2005 for a comment on my resolutions for 2006!'