Religion – an avenue for unity

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,

I was very privileged to listen to the interfaith presentation, by His Excellency, President Donald Ramotar. This was at the National Cultural Centre, February 1, 2012.

I reacted with a sense of satisfaction, but I still have questions. In Guyana, many times, issues are responded to in a racially divisive way. Many try to pretend that this is not a reality. But the point of this ‘little’ letter is not to assess race in any way at all.

I prefer to look beyond man; God must be looked at. This is where the president really inspired. President Ramotar explained that Guyana guarantees religious freedom to “observe and practise and celebrate” the various faiths in the country. What was very nice to reinforce is the fact that “freedom is not only guaranteed in the Constitution”, but it is there in the practical realisations.

There is indeed in Guyana, a genuine respect for religious freedom on the path of the government.

So what is my question? Well, every religion embraces a kind of uniqueness and ‘exclusivity’ and I want to know, if religious leaders are going to seek to endorse the president’s voice and plea, how it will be done.

This is what I mean. To me, religion is in the living. So when there is a religious impasse, leaders need to ask themselves if they are being selfish and didactic. I propose here that all be reminded that it makes no sense to ‘burn a house just to kill a mouse’. Get the ‘big picture’. This will foster unity.

Yours truly,

Seelall Samaroo

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