The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) in association with the Islamic Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) and the Islamic Organisation for Latin America and the Caribbean (OIPALC) will host the ninth OIPALC conference on February 9 in Georgetown, Guyana.
OIPALC was formed about 15 years ago to promote awareness of the needs of Muslims in South America and the Caribbean. ISESCO has sponsored many of OIPALC programmes since ISESCO deals with the cultural and educational aspects of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Guyana, with about 12 per cent of its population being Muslim, is a member of the OIC. Neighbouring Suriname which has a Muslim population of about 15 per cent is also a member of the OIC.
Attendance
The conference will be attended by some important figures from the Middle East and the region. ISESCO Director General, Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri will visit Guyana to attend the meeting, as well as the under secretary in the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs of Kuwait, Dr Adel Al-Falah. In addition, officials from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Islamic Solidarity Fund are expected in Guyana for the event.
Dr Abdulaziz Altwaijri, a social justice advocate, is one of the founders of the East-West dialogue. He has written about and contributed to the fields of human rights, democracy, modernity, economic and social justice.
The visit and the meeting are part of ISESCO’s sustained effort to assist Muslim communities and minorities beyond the member states in preserving their cultural identity and fully integrating into their society and most effectively contributing to its development.
In a press release on his upcoming visit to Guyana, Dr Altwaijri said the meeting in Guyana is very important because of the rapidly changing world.
There are wholesale violation of international laws, abuses of all aspects of human rights, attendant socio-economic problems and unrelenting waves of hate, discrimination and extremism.
Scope
“The scope and scale of these changes and problems are as such that the only solution is to promote dialogue among cultures and spread the values of understanding, coexistence and mutual respect between peoples and nations,” said Dr Altwaijri.
President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, ministers of government, members of the diplomatic corps and leaders of local Islamic organisations will also attend the conference.
ISESCO, which is headquartered in Rabat, Morocco, was founded by the OIC in 1979, with the objective of promoting and consolidating cooperation with member nations in the fields of education, science and culture.
ISESCO also aims to promote and consolidate understanding and contribute to the achievement of world peace.
Guyana is considering ISESCO membership, which could lead to some tangible cooperation with the University of Guyana and other areas of education and the arts. ISESCO is also willing to consider a membership fee waiver or reduction for Guyana.
Neighbouring Suriname is also a member of the OIC, ISESCO and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
