Dear Editor,
A “village” news entity has lamented President Ali’s speaking at a function of the Assembly of God (AOG) Youth Group, dubbing it “worrying” (May 2, OPED, “President Ali’s coziness with Christian Churches worrying”). As a founder member of an Assembly of God Church on the Corentyne, I want to ring in on this matter. You may not agree with the President or his Party, but we have to be fair in our commentary, giving credit where credit is due. While the President’s appearance at the event does not need defending, everyone knows this President is not a “sitting in the office” President. He is always on the go, going everywhere, visiting many villages and solving problems, checking up on the progress of projects all over the country. He is energetic and is engaged locally as well as internationally. The President is President of all Guyana which he calls “One Guyana,” and can attend any event to which he is invited. It seems as if the real worry by the “Village” people is that this democratically-elected President is well received in all communities in Guyana, Brooklyn or elsewhere. They worry about the implications for the 2025 elections. Those who are nervous about the warm welcome he receives are attacking their own people and calling for boycotts. People welcoming a President or Opposition Leader with politeness and warmth is a good “Christian” thing in our environment where some push a race card to polarize our people. But Churches are called to be healers within the community. The AOG’s invitation to the youthful President at their Convention is a step in the right direction. Churches have been very silent and aloof at a time when we need them to engage with national development matters.
Not because people are warm to the President means they will vote for him, but that can happen if they like his demonstration of caring and ongoing engagement. No party or group should tell us whom we should associate with or not associate with. No one party owns us racially, religiously, or politically and think they can tell us whom to talk to or not! In our politics, politeness has been absent. We have an Opposition Leader refusing to shake the President’s hand, but at the same time ACDA calls for power sharing. If you can’t shake hands, how will power sharing work? Gandhi said, “you can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.” Because government controls so much resources, engagements with the Government would be a smart thing for any church or community group. Engagement with the Government does not mean you necessarily endorse and agree with their every policy or practice.
I remember during the five months of the attempted rigging for the PNC in full view of the world, the Government released pictures of a top Assembly of God leader ushering President Granger into his birthday party. While some may say that’s the right thing at the wrong time, and that subliminal messages were being sent, that leader was within his right to do so. I don’t recall the “village” people objecting.
The Government side needs to be commended for always reaching out. At Easter time, Government Ministers are seen attending and speaking at many Christian Churches. The Churches need to engage with the Government especially to make sure we don’t reverse generations of family values, as these are under organized attacks by deviant movements in and out of Guyana.
Sincerely,
Dr. J. Jailall
Civil Society Advocate
