WHILE the concept of Social Cohesion, and a ministry to represent that concept remains relatively new to Guyanese, Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally has asserted the relevance of her ministry and its mandate in the face of Guyana being a “racially divided country.” In an exclusive interview with this publication at the Public Buildings following the convening of the 11th Parliament on Wednesday, Minister Ally explained that the mandate of her ministry would be to follow wide consultations with stakeholders from civil society, including religious organisations, the private sector, and even political parties.
She noted that the goal of the David Granger administration by constituting the Social Cohesion Ministry is to bridge the divides that exist in Guyana. She alluded to President Granger’s address to Parliament, which featured an ambitious mandate of his administration to a “One Nation Policy” running through to year 2020.
“Your Government recognises that our foreparents came from four continues. We, their heirs and successors, resolve to work together to pursue the ideal of making Guyana ‘One Nation’,” President Granger told the members of the 11th Parliament.
The Head of State added that in order to achieve the real development of all Guyanese people, “we must… combine our efforts, concentrate our energy, and endeavour to defeat the real enemies of our people.” President Granger noted those enemies to be crime, disease, ignorance, and poverty.
When asked what measures will be undertaken in the Social Cohesion Ministry to achieve its cause, subject Minister Amna Ally disclosed a meeting with stakeholders yesterday in hopes that on August 27, there will be a “Summit or a Roundtable at the Convention Centre, where the stakeholders and the people generally will help to develop a five-year Strategic Plan.”
Minister Ally called for broad-based consultations in delivering the mandate of her ministry. “We don’t want to impose it on anybody. We want it to come out of various stakeholders, because it is our intention to bring together the political parties, the religious organisations, civil society, [and the] private sector… to work together.”
President Granger said also in his address to the 11th Parliament, “Your Government has an obligation, over the next five years until 2020, during the legal life of the 11th Parliament, to fulfil the aspiration of our founding fathers.
He said this while reaffirming the commitment of his Administration to “continue the task of working towards achieving national unity and towards making Guyana ‘One Nation’.”

By Derwayne Wills