In order for the vision of ‘One Guyana’ to be achieved, religious bodies must play an integral role in building the foundation, according to President Irfaan Ali.
Ali made the statement while addressing a gathering at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) yesterday in observance of the National Day of Prayer and Fasting. The National Day of Prayer and Fasting is a fresh idea under the President’s ‘One Guyana’ banner and came about since the three major faiths – Hindus, Christians and Muslims – are simultaneously observing periods of fasting – Navratri, Lent and Ramadan.
The President explained that he took the time to go through the teachings surrounding fasting in the three major religions and realized that “that for us to establish the foundation of principles that one Guyana must stand on – the church, mosques, the temples, and the religious bodies must be an integral part on that foundation.”
“Fundamentally, the principles that govern a society that is just, are the principles that govern religious undertaking. And if we are to share the true nature of the scriptures, we are to teach, then I have no hesitation or no worry in my heart that, fundamentally, the right thing will be taught, the right principles will be taught, the right elements of life will be taught,” Ali added.
He noted that the point of the National Day of Prayer and Fasting is to get everyone to come together and understand the principles and values of the various religions. He added that the period of fasting serves as a time to reflect and take stock of one’s purpose.
He encouraged the gathering to introspect and not be afraid to “call yourself out” so as to foster change in their attitude.
“If all of us can get those under our charge to understand, fundamentally, the principles and the values that we must stand for based on religious underpinning, I am convinced our society will be better. Our country will be better and we will achieve the ‘One Guyana’ because under no banner of religious belief can you hate, under no banner can you discriminate, under no banner can you not be tolerant of each other,” he said.
He also charged the religious institutions to ensure that the value system through which they operate, uphold always the rule of law, democratic principles, equality, tolerance and compassion, before adding that it is only through those principles that Guyana would be stronger.
Speaking to the gathering, President Ali urged them to be more charitable, explaining that charity does not necessarily mean donating money but also speaks of donating time and sharing values.
“There are elements outside of the political and the social and economic aspect of the ‘One Guyana’ that I want us to embrace and this period of fasting gives us that opportunity to seek each other out, to engage, to pull each other up, to pray for each other, to support each other. I only ask for all of us including myself to strive to be better than we are today.
“Better in service to humanity. Let us all work to be more beneficial citizens, more beneficial humans. And you don’t need to be rich to be beneficial. You don’t need to be a rich man to give charity,” he said.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Walrond also spoke at the event and encouraged Guyanese to seek ways to better themselves while staying true to their religious teachings.
Several leaders from the three dominant faiths also took the stage in prayers and worship guiding the congregation.
