President Donald Ramotar encouraged the Albouystown community to participate in the services and programmes offered in the newly opened $44 million Masjid an-Najm and social centre.
Ramotar was accompanied by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, former labour minister Manzoor Nadir and Secretary-General of the Guyana Red Cross Dorothy Fraser at the opening ceremony held on Saturday, a press release from the Government Information Agency said. The building, formerly the Star Cinema was rebuilt with funds raised by the Muslim community under the auspices of the Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT).
In his address, Ramotar said Guyana is known for being a nation where all religions can flourish in peace as there is greater understanding among citizens of different faiths than in several other countries. He said government and the GIT believe that developing human potential is its most important role as such each will find the other to be a great partner in fighting against anti-social activities that plague the society. The President noted that there are many hidden talents in Albouystown that are drowned by poverty, as such, he hopes that the community will capitalise on the opportunities that the centre will provide.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the centre Nazar Mohamed said that the project was first visualized a few years ago during Islamic Awareness Week. “The land on which it stands was donated; however, it had accumulated huge arrears of rates and taxes,” he said; which led the GIT to seek government’s assistance through Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali to acquire the property. Mohamed said Ali engaged the President on the issue which led to interventions at the Mayor and City Council to have the debt waived.
The centre will provide Muslim education and training, family guidance and counselling, women’s education and development, skills training, literary classes, social relief and welfare, medical clinic and care for the elderly and differently-abled. It is also an Information Communication Technology hub under the One Laptop Per Family programme.
