.jpg)
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds led children from all across Guyana in a walk for peace, beginning at Main Street and ending at the Georgetown Family Church in Thomas Street, Georgetown.
This peace walk was hosted by the Universal Peace Federation of the United Nations (UN), and saw children walking for peace along Main Street into Middle Street and then into Thomas Street, bearing placards which read “Peace in Guyana… goodwill to all Guyanese”, “The will of God lies in Peace”, among other slogans.
Delivering the feature address to an audience which included children and religious and political leaders, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said the Government of Guyana was looking to the UN to continue playing a pivotal role in the struggle for peace and justice in the world, and assured that Guyana supports the UN’s efforts in this regard.
He added that the Government continues to advocate that, at all times, a multilateral approach led by the UN must be pursued in a search for the solution to conflict, while he continued paying tribute to UN peace keepers, ambassadors of peace, and the Universal Peace Federation.
He noted that International Day of Peace encourages peoples of the world, as nations and individuals, to focus on ideals of peace, which must come from within.
Hinds pointed out that human beings all have different opinions, and they are challenged to resolve their differences in a peaceful way, which often poses a great challenge, since persons may often find excuses not to peacefully coexist.
As persons look around the world today, he said, they are pained by conflicts seen in many countries, and the toll it is inflicting on families, especially children, who often go hungry and without medical attention.
The Prime Minister alluded to the recent agreement between the United States (U.S.) and Russia which averted a humanitarian disaster had an attack been launched on Syria, and reiterated that the Government of Guyana welcomed this agreement.
Hinds also reiterated the Government’s encouragement of the immediate commencement of talks among all the parties concerned, towards achieving a political end to the conflict in Syria; and said Government has remained steadfast in support of efforts aimed at peaceful resolution of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, and the hearts of Government leaders are also with the people of the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He said it is often recognised that, in society today, persons tend to resort to violence quickly, particularly domestic violence, which may occur when persons do not get what they want or expect; but he said they need to find ways of promoting other ways of handling disappointments.
Also speaking on the topic of world peace at this event were leaders of the three main religious groups in Guyana — Hindu, Muslim and Christian in the persons of Businessman Mr. Roshan Khan for the Muslims, and Junior Finance Minister Bishop Juan Edghill for the Christians.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman, was also present at the event.
The audience was treated to steel pan renditions of songs, a poem, and several persons were awarded certificates from the Ambassadors for Peace, a global network of leaders representing the religious, racial and ethnic diversity of the human family, as well as the discipline of human endeavour.
The Ambassadors for Peace stand on the common ground of shared principles, and are committed to the path of promoting reconciliation, overcoming barriers and building peace.
