The Barack Obama administration has given Guyana high points for maintaining religious freedom here, but noted that the country’s military practice tended to favour Christians.
State Secretary Hillary Clinton
In its 2010 International Religious Freedom Report, released by its State Department on Wednesday, September 14, the United States acknowledged that Guyana’s constitution and other laws and policies protect religious freedom; and, in practice, the government generally enforced these protections.
“The government generally respected religious freedom in law and in practice.
“There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the government during the reporting period,” the report, released by State Secretary Hillary Clinton, said.
According to the U. S., there were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.
Washington also said that it discusses religious freedom with the Guyana government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights.
Quoting figures from a 2002 census on religious affiliation, the U.S. said approximately 57 per cent of the population was Christian – 17 per cent Pentecostal, eight per cent Roman Catholic, seven per cent Anglican, five per cent Seventh-day Adventist, and 20 per cent other Christian groups. Approximately 28 per cent of the population was Hindu, seven per cent was Muslim (mostly Sunni), and two per cent practised other beliefs, including members of the Rastafarian Movement and the Baha’i faith.
An estimated four per cent of the population does not profess any religion.
Some religious groups claimed higher membership than reflected by the 2002 census.
“The country is ethnically diverse, reflecting East Indian, African, Chinese, and European ancestry, as well as a significant indigenous population. Most religious groups can claim membership from a cross-section of ethnic groups, with two exceptions: most Hindus are Indo- Guyanese, and nearly all Rastafarians are Afro-Guyanese,” the U.S. report noted.
Freedom of worship Speaking about Guyana’s laws regarding religious liberty, the report said the law protects the right of individuals to choose and change their religion, and to interpret religious beliefs for themselves. Members of all religious groups worshipped freely. There is no state or otherwise dominant religion.
It added that while the government recognised religious groups of all faiths, they must register with the government to receive formal recognition.
“Religious groups seeking to establish operations must first obtain permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Access to Amerindian areas requires the permission of the local village council,” the report stated.
It added that both public and religiously affiliated schools exist, and parents were free to send their children to the school of their choice.
Turning their attention to the Guyana Defence Force, the report stated that the military coordinated with civilian religious groups to provide personnel with access to religious services.
“Leaders of all major religious groups conducted prayer services and counselling, although generally only Christian sermons were given on GDF bases. Although no official GDF policy required attendance at religious services, anecdotal evidence from GDF officers suggested that individual commanders required attendance at some religious programmes.
Membership in a particular religion did not confer any specific advantage or disadvantage; however, general military practice tended to favour Christians.” The report noted Guyana’s observance of Good Friday, Easter, Easter Monday, Christmas (Christian holidays); Phagwah, Diwali (Hindu holidays); and You-Man-Nabi and Eid Ul-Adha (Islamic holidays) as national holidays.
Protection of religious freedom fundamental Meanwhile, in her address to launch the report, Clinton said the protection of religious freedom is a fundamental concern of the U.S., “going back to the earliest days of our republic, and it remains so today.
“As we look around the world, in fact, we see many countries where governments deny their people the most fundamental human rights: the right to believe according to their own conscience – including the freedom to not believe or not follow the religion favoured by their government; the right to practise their religion freely, without risking discrimination, arrest, or violence; and the right to educate their children in their own religious traditions; and the freedom to express their beliefs.” “People who have a voice in how they are governed — no matter what their identity or ethnicity or religion — are more likely to have a stake in both their government’s and their society’s success. That is good for stability, for American national security, and for global security,” Clinton declared.
