The apparent recycling of a message by Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry made for some confusion during the Department of Culture’s Phagwah celebration yesterday, when she referred to the holiday as “Diwali” and “the Festival of Lights” multiple times during her speech.
“I would begin by saying Happy Phagwah, Happy Holi. On Sunday, March 12th, here in Guyana and around the world, Hindus will be celebrating Diwali, the Festival of Lights,” she began.
After some prompting from the crowd at the Department’s Main Street office, and the ministry’s public relations officer, the minister corrected herself.
“And today the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport is holding its annual Phagwah celebrations in honour of this festival. This is one of the most joyful festivals in Guyana and one which helps to foster national harmony among our diverse ethnic groups,” she continued, composed and not once flinching to acknowledge her slip.
However, a minute later, she made the mistake once again.
“It is important that at this Diwali celebration–Phagwah, sorry, celebrations we all hold high to the vision of justice and betterment for all…,” she said.
She appeared to carefully choose her words from then on, using unlikely phrases such as, “celebrate their awareness in the form of colour” and “may this Phagwah be as bright as ever with the colours.”
The recycling of a Diwali message the minister delivered last year appeared to be the reason for her mix up.
The Guyana Chronicle’s October 29th, 2016 edition carried a story titled ‘Culture Department Celebrates Diwali,’ which reported the minister delivering a speech appearing to be nearly verbatim to the one given yesterday.
“Diwali is a time for gathering with family and friends, often marked with good food and dancing. It is a time for celebration, but also a time for prayer and reflection; a time when we must remember that there are always others who are less fortunate than ourselves,” she was quoted as saying in the Chronicle report.
Her speech yesterday had little variation: “It is therefore time for gathering with friends and family, often marked with good food and dancing like we saw a few minutes ago. It is not only a time for celebration, but also a time for prayer and reflection, a time to remember that there are some who are less fortunate than others. This holiday reminds us that we should commit ourselves to helping those in need.”
Henry’s speech yesterday also contained other near reproductions from her Diwali message. “May this Phagwah be as bright as ever with the colours, may it bring joy, health and wealth to you and may this festive season brighten your lives and those near and dear to you. May it also bring utmost peace. Happy Phagwah 2017 to the people of this country,” she said yesterday, almost exactly echoing sentiments she had delivered in her Diwali message.
The Department of Culture organized yesterday’s event in anticipation of Sunday’s celebration of the festival.
Brahmachrie Devarath, who provided an overview of the significance of the festival at the event, stated that the observance and the accompanying story behind it are representative of the importance of devotion, faith, the fair use of power and the need to always respect the views of others.he programme consisted of dance presentations, singing, and a tassa drumming display.
