THE Ministry of Tourism will be supporting the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) in a number of initiatives. This was discussed during a courtesy call on the organisation by Minister of Tourism, Cathy Hughes, yesterday.

The Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC), one of Guyana’s leading Muslim organisations, has been hosting the annual Qaseeda Competition which attracts a number of tourists into the country.
According to Minister Hughes, the community work that the organisation is doing is commendable, in that it not only benefits Muslims, but all Guyanese. “The organisation does a lot of community work and there is no distinction… two orphanages, programmes targeting youths, take them off the streets and these are not specifically for the Muslim community but all Guyanese. At the end of the day, there is similarity, because we all want to work to make our communities stronger so we are happy to support the initiatives that they have,” Minister Hughes noted.
In keeping with the President’s quest to create a better life for the people of Guyana, Minister Hughes committed her ministry to supporting the initiatives of the organisation, especially those targeting youths, and tourism.
The 13th annual Qaseeda Competition will be held in August, and the ACIC’s President- General, Hakeem Khan, said that the former tourism minister had pledged to financially support this venture.  Minister Hughes explained that her ministry is currently working without a budget; however, she will review the commitment and ensure that the organisation receives what was promised them. Khan, who expressed happiness with the outcome of the meeting, said that there is a lot that the Muslim community can offer and the organisation will seek to forge closer collaboration with all of the ministries in this regard.
One of the things that the organisation will be immediately working on is the engagement on the entire West Coast of Demerara. This project will be executed in collaboration with a number of stakeholders. The Anna Catherina Islamic Complex, which also has two orphanages under its purview, has been promoting a number of programmes targeting youths.

The organisation also presented the minister with a plaque,in honour of her appointment as Minister of Tourism