As the Holy Month of Ramadan commences, on behalf of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), I would like to extend Ramadan greetings to all Muslims in Guyana and across the world. The month of Ramadan is a special month for our Muslim community and we commend them for the strength they display in maintaining the fast from sunrise to sunset each day in order to feel the plight of the poor and develop empathy for the needy.
Through fasting, our Muslim brothers and sisters experience hunger and thirst and sympathise with those in the world who have little to eat.
This year, the holy month has occurred at a time when in many parts of the world millions of people are enduring great hardship. Some are caused by natural disasters, others by war and conflict.
Today, we spare a thought for the people of Pakistan and China whose lives have been so terribly disrupted by floods and mudslides.
We think of the people in Russia who have lost so much by the uncontrollable fires sweeping that country and for the people in the Mid West, US, who have seen their homes destroyed by tornadoes.
We must also remember our brothers and sisters in Haiti who are still living in makeshift camps and are enduring great suffering.
We must not forget those in Somalia, Darfur, Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan. Death and sufferings are constant companions of people in those countries due to wars and conflicts.
Once again, special greetings to all Guyanese, and in particular, to our Muslim community for their holy month.
Ramadan Mubarak to all.