TWO evenings ago enthralled spectators gazed at the crescendo of colours ascending into heaven to become part of an incandescent but regrettably evanescent grandeur of glitter floating in ever-receding patterns to blend with the exquisite ambience radiating from the stellar beauty of God’s resplendent world that is peculiarly Guyanese. This was the Chinese Association’s celebration of the Spring Festival and the occasion ushered in the Chinese New Year: Regrettably evanescent – because one wanted to grasp that fleeting moment of mesmerizing beauty within one’s view forever.
Yesterday, hundreds marched to the beat of the Salvation Army band under the sweltering forenoon sun, beginning at about 11 a.m., from the Cenotaph on Main and Church Streets to the verdant oasis of peace and tranquility in the heart of the city – the Promenade Gardens, as part of the weeklong celebration of World Interfaith Harmony Week, which evolved from the resolution of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly which called, last October, for religious dialogue, cooperation, and active work to create, maintain and strengthen inter-faith harmony and goodwill.
Guyana is a sponsor to this resolution, which is on the same trajectory of Guyana’s Government, which has been conducting interfaith deliberations and inter-religious engagements at every level in efforts to promote peace and harmony in the land.
And while the activities celebrating the Chinese Association’s Festival of Lanterns and the World Interfaith Harmony Week varied in their respective themes, both have uplifting implications for Guyana’s cultural, ethnic, and religious pluralism, which was celebrated very beautifully and poignantly in the Promenade Gardens yesterday as representatives of the various faith-based organizations in Guyana either spoke on, or expressed in art form the unvarying theme of love and unity in a family of humanity for the development of this nation in particular and the world in general.
After prayers by representatives of the Moslem, Christian, Hindu and Bahai communities, Ms Shelon Harmon of the Faith Miracle Ministries danced to “This test is your storm” in a dynamic portrayal of invocation and praise-giving to the Lord.  From the same church Pastor Jean and Precious Roberts sang duets on the theme of love and the brotherhood of man.
Good neighbours break down walls to build bridges
The contribution by the Bahais was rendered by two members of that community singing “Good Neighbours” and “Building Bridges”, wherein they proffered that “Good neighbours come in all colours…although they may look different on the outside, they all belong to the family of man”; and that “Building bridges out of walls…turn the wall into a bridge…take a brother by the hand…into the promised land of God”.
The Moslem community was represented by Brother Mohamed Yusuf and Brother Ramzan Ali. Singing melodiously without accompaniment, Brother Yusuf urged “…whether you go to churches, whether you go to masjids, worship your Creator, peace and love, my brother…it is God Almighty who guards our destiny, and protect us from Satan, in Guyana forever”; while brother Ramzan Ali rendered a quaseeda in superlative mellifluous tones, in which he saluted Prophet Mohamed (OWBP), the harbinger of peace and love to humankind.
The Hindu organizations came together under one umbrella to render several bhajans, with members of the West Demerara Central Arya Samaj praying melodiously “May the entire human society be dear to us.  May the experience of living together as one family help us to snap chains of bondage and hatred.”
Janet Singh of the Guyana Maha Kali All Religious Organisation sought through her bhajan “the protective blessings of the universal mother on the children of the world” because Hinduism is a way of life for the family of mankind.
President of the West Demerara Central Arya Samaj and Regional Information officer of Region 3, Mr. Jaidev Doodnauth, urged that negative thinking and behaviour be eschewed in favour of good and beneficial actions toward each other and the entire society.
Sister Kamla of the Brahma Kumaris sang of dispelling darkness with the light of love and peace, while the magnificent drumming of the Guyana United Mystical Apostolic Council had everyone tapping their feet.
Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission, Bishop Juan Edgehill, gave credit to members of the various faith-based communities for planning and implementing the day’s activities.  Basing his presentation on the allegory used by Pandit Haresh Tewari during the IAC’s “Night of Remembrance” in Lusignan on 26 January last, Bishop said that, just as the beauty of the Promenade Gardens is enhanced by the many-hued blooms, likewise “the beauty of Guyana resides in the diversity of its religions and its various cultures.”  Referring to the diversity of the participants in the day’s activities in a gathering of what Roshan Khan estimated to be in the vicinity of 1,000 persons, Bishop Edgehill stated: “We look beautiful today! …This is a Guyanese programme in the garden of many flowers, showcasing the many flowers of Guyana. I think we need to celebrate that.
“Interfaith dialogue is very much needed,” said the Bishop, who alluded to the many instances of conflict in the world where religious strife – “the issues and sensitivity of religion” is the precipitator; but I think we have something here in Guyana that we can celebrate…..where we can showcase to the rest of the world that, while we are not yet perfect; while there is still yet a long way for us to travel, teeming with all the various sensitivities, the interfaith dialogue is alive in Guyana.”
It is the considered and often expressed opinion that Prime Minister Samuel Hinds is the ultimate Guyanese, because, while adhering to the mores of his Christian faith and Christian upbringing, he has become integral to the various religious communities in the country.  He does not merely act as an executive presence during religious observances of other faiths, but participates fully in the rituals and pays keen and respectful attention to the moulvis, pundits and priests at the ceremonies that he attends.
Contribution a requirement of love of neighbour
PM Hinds, who is performing the duties of President in the absence of President Bharrat Jagdeo, alluding to the contention of a member of the media that the turnout to the “Harmony March” was not impressive, said that every great movement of mankind began with just a few persons with a great concept that grew out of a visionary idea.  He challenged “…those who have heard the call, and responded to the call for harmony become the disciples of that call….We should act out our realization that there is need for harmony, our realization that we should love our brother, our neighbour.”  He issued an invitation for everyone to put the UN’s theme of loving one’s neighbour in a national context and made reference to the violence in the society, the ripple effect which devastate families and the societies, especially in view of the nature of reportage in the media.  According to the acting President, the news of violent crimes is seemingly reported with “…a great relish.”
He urged the media to take heed that everyone is vulnerable to the same anomalies in society and to report such issues objectively and with sensitivity.
His distress over the hundreds of unnecessary deaths by accident on the roadways, and the resultant social and infrastructural dislocations was palpable as he noted that this number could be considerably reduced if Guyanese were to change their attitudes, especially as they drive on the roads and highways of the country.  He urged that drivers become more considerate, concerned, and kind to each other, even if another party is breaching the traffic laws, which he says would be greater contributors to accident reduction than more advanced infrastructure being constructed.
Speaking of the infrastructure that the government has put in place in continuous efforts to enhance services in every sector, the acting President stressed that the perception that only the physical things were of primary importance may have been unwittingly propagated, whereby people believe they come secondary to the service being provided.  However, he urged service providers in the various sectors to be more thoughtful in their dealings with their fellow citizens and to ensure they receive optimum benefits from resources provided for the people’s care and welfare by the Government.
Reflecting on the beautiful architecture and other benefits that Guyanese have inherited from the Europeans, the Prime Minister said that there should be appreciation for everyone’s contribution to Guyana’s development; because contribution is also a requirement of love of neighbour.
Nostradamus had reportedly predicted that a catastrophic 3rd world war that would have been Armageddon for mankind would have been precipitated by conflict in the Middle East.  However, this great concept for establishing the first week of February each year as “World Interfaith Harmony Week” was first envisioned by Jordan’s King Abdullah and Prince Gazi; and instead of World War 111, world peace could very well evolve from this great idea emanating from a Middle Eastern State.