SOCIAL Cohesion is said to be a process of building trust based on shared values in appreciation of diversities, thus creating a sense of belonging, and assuring equal access to resources so as to provide a good quality of life.It is against this backdrop that the Minister of Social Cohesion has been travelling the country and meeting with several groups to discuss ways in which the aim of the Ministry of Social Cohesion can be achieved for the good of all Guyanese.

Headed by Cohesion Social Minister the Honourable Amna Ally, this Ministry has, over the year since its formation, developed several strategies aimed at fostering and promoting national unity.

“The Ministry is cognisant of its role in working towards improving the well-being of all its members, fighting exclusion and marginalisation, creating a sense of belonging, promoting trust, and offering all Guyanese opportunities for upward mobility,” Minister Ally said during a press conference advising the public of this Ministry’s upcoming Unity Day celebrations on May 11.

Programme Coordinator of the Ministry, Ms. Sharon Patterson, explained that while Social Cohesion covers race and ethnicity, it is about much more. She said the road to social cohesion is a process and, as such, the results will not be immediate.

“It is about bringing people together irrespective of diversities — whether it is political persuasion, economic background, religion, cultures, geographic differences — to work, to prosper, and for survival,” she said. Ms. Patterson added that, in all of that, people must also be able to see how coming together would benefit everyone when resources are shared equitably.

The mandate of the Social Cohesion Ministry is to facilitate that process, so that different groups can come together and have this shared understanding.

The Programme Coordinator said that in the Ministry’s consultations with people, many have welcomed the initiative to strengthen social cohesion, and have stated that there is genuine desire for people to bring about that goal. Yet there are some people who do have past hurts and grievances that they continue to express.

Last year, the Ministry, while understanding the importance of establishing a consultative process as the foundation and driving force of a work, started with a national roundtable discussion with a number of social, religious, political and other groups, to get a clear understanding of the needs of each group and where they stood as regards their view on their role in social cohesion in the country.

“Coming out of that, many persons felt that social cohesion should be mainstreamed in the policies and programmes in Guyana,” the Programme Coordinator said. She added that Guyana already has an existing framework for social cohesion in its Constitution, as well as (in) other international treaties regarding human rights. The country has also signed on to several international conventions, including the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; the International Covenant on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights; Convention on the Rights of the Child, and others.

“Following the roundtable discussion, the Ministry is currently working on policy and problematic framework, which includes a strategic plan on social cohesion.

“That process is now being discussed and rolled out. Persons are going to be integrally involved in that. We have already started engaging with them, because numerous consultations will be held with them in communities and so on,” the Programme Coordinator said, adding that aside from that, the Ministry is still involved in several other initiatives, including the recently launched “Unity Day: Culture up! One Guyana!” Initiative – a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Education that involves visits to schools; the “Face the Community” Initiative, also hosted with the Ministry of Education; sensitisation activities; meetings with individual groups in society, and other initiatives.

Among those groups, consultations have already been held with faith-based organisations, as the Ministry tries to build on Guyana’s strong history of religious tolerance. So far, the Ministry has met with representatives from the Muslim, Hindu and Christian communities. Soon, the Ministry will meet with the Bahai’s, the Rastafarians, the Faithists and other religious groups, to ensure that the interests of all religions practised in Guyana have the opportunity to be heard.

Plans are also in place to meet with other social groups, including the LGBT community and members of civil society, to ensure that they are all part of the conversation on Social Cohesion.

“We see the role of faith-based organisations as critical in the process. Everyone is involved in this process, so we are also going to be talking very soon with Indigenous groups and civil society groups,” the Coordinator has said.

Coming out of the meetings that have already been held, Ms. Patterson said, participants are overall pleased to be part of the consultation process, because it is clear that people want to be involved, despite differences.

“In terms of working together and seeing Guyana grow as a nation, I think we all want that. So persons have lauded the Ministry for these initiatives,” she said.

She noted that people must also be given the chance to express themselves regarding past pains and grievances experienced as a result of divisions, but there must be a point when the country must move forward in an aim to focus on nation building.

“We cannot continue to dwell on those hindrances and experiences of the past. Rather, it’s more important for us to understand where we are at, and make a commitment to move forward… Where there is need for forgiveness, we forgive,” she said. “It is time for reconciliation.

“It’s time for peace building discussions, and if there is need for mediation in some communities, then let’s do that. As a nation, we have gone through some difficult times, and we are willing to talk about that — address those issues so we can move on.”

Faith-based organisations

The move to meet with faith-based organisations commenced in February when Minister Ally met with the Muslim community. Minister Ally informed the gathering that the meeting was not intended to be a one-off discourse, and that a series of similar consultations with such stakeholders would be held in the future.

Responding on behalf of the Muslim community was Mr. Shaheed Uthman of the Guyana Muslim Mission, who said that there is a need for more open dialogue about what Islam is about, so that the stereotypes that Muslims face can be broken down.

He said the existence of these stereotypes further affects the contributions that Muslims can make to help achieve social cohesion.

When meeting with the Christian Community, the Minister was met with similar sentiments of appreciation for the move towards social cohesion.

Other representatives put forth the hope that future meetings should include members of all the other religious groups in one place, so that real cross-border discussions could be had.

Members of the Hindu community followed suit in their appreciation of such meetings, but some representatives had specific concerns and requests.

President of the Viraat Sabha, Pandit Ravindranath Persaud, said nation-building is based on five principles: partnerships, process, problem-solving, purpose and people; and that if we focus on those principles, we could move forward as a country to achieve social cohesion.

Other Groups
The entertainment community was also given a chance to air its views as regards how the message of social cohesion can be achieved by using the arts and entertainment industries to reach a large number of people in an appealing way.

The Minister added that the message must be taught that people’s cultures must be respected, and this must be taught to children at an early age by their parents.

Other participants shared similar views, adding that there is a lack of appreciation for our ‘Guyaneseness’, the country’s history and local talent, and that these issues serve as barriers that must be overcome if social cohesion is to be achieved.

At the close of the meeting, Minister Ally invited the participants to come up with a roster of national programmes that would be aimed at promoting social cohesion through culture-targeted initiatives. These programmes will be targeted principally at schools, and will also be observed on May 11, designated Social Cohesion Day.

On that day there will be a nationwide observance of activities, beginning with prayer services. A National Prayer Ceremony will be held at the Jubilee Park at 19:30hrs.

There will also be at the National Cultural Centre a cultural event looking at the country’s Independence and other historical presentations.

The Ministry will continue with its countrywide sensitisation programmes, as well as with completing its strategic plan.

There are also several community programmes and workshops that will be rolled out in various communities.

With its packed agenda and its continued cross-country initiatives, the Social Cohesion Ministry is committed to focusing on the country’s motto: “One people, One nation, One destiny”, so that we can make it a reality that the entire country can be proud of.