President David Granger yesterday called on the Congregational Church of Guyana to spearhead efforts, as it once did, in rebuilding communities and villages via education, social services and leadership.
Speaking at the 208th anniversary celebrations of the Guyana Congregatio-nal Union, which was held at the National Cultural Centre, Granger said that the Congregational Church has been the midwife of community life and worship for many Christians in villages for over 200 years, according to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency.
“This nation is eternally indebted to Con-gregationalism for the role it played in education, both during and after the dark age of enslavement….Congregationalism was integrated into the communities in which they ministered. Churches were more than houses of worship; they were classrooms of learning; they were community centres… Congregationalism and communitarianism in Guyana are inseparable,” the President said.
Granger said that as Guyana prepares to host Local Government Elections and to celebrate its 50th Independence Anniversary, now is an opportune time for the Church and Guyana to reclaim the spirit of community solidarity – communitarianism – which characterised the church’s early work here.
The President said his Administration will strengthen community cohesion and development all in the interest of building a stronger, more united society.
“I believe in communitarianism. I established, for the first time in Guyana, a Ministry of Communities. I proclaimed, for the first time, a National Day of Villages on 7th November every year as a reflection not only of the past role, but also of the future prospect for community development. I promised, and will ensure, that 40 days and 40 nights from now, communities will be re-democratised after a dark episode of dictatorial domination. I promised and I will ensure that Local Government Elections, which have been obstructed for nearly two decades will be conducted. Citizens will be re-empowered to manage their municipalities, neighbourhoods and villages once again,” he said, according to the press release.
Granger said that communities are too frequently affected by serious social problems; weak economies; dysfunctional families; crime and misdemeanours and infrastructural damage and other problems. “Some communities have become mere dormitories where people go home to sleep at night and depart early the next day to go to work somewhere else. Communities throughout Guyana today, need a renaissance, renewal and restoration. Communities are where most of our people live. They need a collaborative effort of the State, religious and non-governmental organisations to remedy the disease of despair. The Government, however, cannot repair the damage alone,” he said.
