As Guyana joined the rest of the world in observance of the United Nations (UN) designated World Interfaith Harmony Week, President Donald Ramotar on Saturday called for a redoubling of efforts to foster greater understanding and appreciation among the different religions in Guyana.
World Interfaith Harmony Week was officially launched on Saturday at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal. The ceremony opened with prayers and messages from the Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Baha’i, Rastafarian, indigenous and Seventh Day Adventist bodies, and the United Apostolic Mystical Council.
The president, who delivered the keynote address, boasted of the beauty and uniqueness of Guyana’s multiethnic, multicultural society, and the commendable level of tolerance that exists among the various faiths.
Four years ago, World Interfaith Harmony Week became an annual event that is observed during the first week of February, as the UN General Assembly’s way of urging countries to encourage activities aimed at fostering greater dialogue among people of different faiths.
The need to intensify such dialogue was underscored by the desire to promote a culture of genuine peace in a world, driven in many places, by religious and sectarian divides, since tolerance and mutual understanding are general aspirations shared by faiths. The president said that his government fully supports the goal of increased dialogue among faiths, and subscribed to the view that dialogue is the best means of resolving conflicts especially those exacerbated by ethnic and religious conflicts.
Unlike many other countries in the world, the various religious bodies in Guyana co-exist in harmony. The president explained that while interfaith dialogue had to be initiated in other countries in an attempt to ease religious conflicts, Guyana took this step of its own accord.
Interfaith dialogue
“For this reason, interfaith relations in Guyana take place characterised by the absence of hostility, animosity, and bitterness. The fact that the leaders of our various faiths have come together to foster greater understanding is something to commend and celebrate and encourage. It enriches all of our lives and helps to foster greater unity among all our peoples. It is also the best example that we, as a nation, can hope for when addressing challenges that we face,” President Ramotar posited.
“The fact that our religious leaders can come together to advance the goal of interfaith dialogue should serve as a good example to our Parliament to put our people’s interest before narrow political agendas. The religious harmony that we have fostered must be held up as a beacon for building greater mutual understanding, cooperation, and peace across our land,” President Ramotar stated.
Freedom of religion
Meanwhile, UN Resident Coordinator, Khadija Musa read to the audience, the message of UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon.
In his message, the secretary general pointed out that each religion harbours a strident minority, prepared to assert fundamentalist doctrines through bigotry and extreme violence. This, he said, is an affront to the heritage and teachings of all major religions. Further, these acts contravene the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which affirms the right of all to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
A symposium was held after the launching ceremony engaging mostly young people from different faiths.
