AS we celebrate the Phagwah holidays with our Hindu sisters and brothers in Guyana and around the world, I would also like to take this opportunity to wish our Bahai sisters and brothers a Happy Naw-Ruz.
Today (yesterday) is Naw-Ruz, the new year of the Bahai community around the world. The Bahai community is an integral part of our country and we are enriched by the faith and practices of our Bahai sisters and brothers.
As we join them in celebrating their New year, we must take time and reflect on the fact that the Bahais are not guaranteed the same freedom they do in Guyana to celebrate their faith in other parts of the world. On their New Year we hope that the day will soon come when they have freedom to celebrate wherever they live in the world.
As they celebrate their New Year after a period of fasting to promote spiritual growth, it is a good time for all Guyanese and the world to recommit to the spirit and values and peace and goodwill that Naw-Ruz signifies.
At a time when disaster is affecting our sisters and brothers in many parts of the world, when peace seem to be eluding so many people in different parts of the world, we wish that the peace and goodwill of Phagwah and Naw-Ruz will reach everyone wherever they live.