HUNDREDS of persons of diverse religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds throughout Guyana, the Caribbean and North America converged on the picturesque Anna Catherina Islamic Complex on the West Coast of Demerara to join the Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman and the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) in celebration of the 13th Annual International Eid Fest Programme at the ACIC on Sunday last.The audience was mesmerised by the performance of local group Indus Voices, led by Amar Ramessar, which provided musical interludes of qaseedas, ghazals and other renditions during the programme. The voices of the Indus Voices’ singers resounded in the air and held in thrall the audience through magnificent performances of qaseedas, ghazals and Sufi renditions.
Indus Voices, formed seven years ago, comprises a set of very talented Guyanese artistes ranging from percussionists to keyboardists to vocalists, all lead by Amar Ramessar. The group has done many charity shows across Guyana and internationally, as well as in countries such as Grenada and French Guiana. It has also performed at the first-ever Rupununi Music Festival in Guyana, and done numerous local performances, such as the farewell ceremony for the Caribbean Development Bank Heads of Government Meeting held in Guyana two years ago.
The group’s magnificent performance, watched by Shazard Ali, Public Relations Officer of the Anjuman Sunnatul Jamaat Association Inc. (ASJA), the largest Islamic organisation in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, has earned the group an immediate invitation to perform during the staging of the International Qaseeda Mehfil in Trinidad and Tobago, from August 11 to 15, 2016.
Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, representing President David Granger, brought greetings to the Guyanese Muslim community from the Government of Guyana. In her dynamic presentation, she congratulated the administration of ACIC for its continuous development, and stated that the Government of Guyana is following the growth of this institution closely and with great pride.
“The celebration of Eid provides national integration and the feeling of brotherhood, which is imperative not only in Guyana but throughout the world,” Minister Ally said.
She urged the wide and diverse audience, which included Pastor Ronald McGarrell and Pandit Deodatt Tillack (who brought greetings from the Christian and Hindu communities respectively) not to forget the ideals cultivated during the beautiful month of Ramadan; and urged the gathering to cultivate three qualities in their lives: love, peace and unity.
Ally also pledged Government’s continued support for institutions such as ACIC and SADR, for the remarkable work they are doing for the country.
President General of ACIC, Hakeem Khan, called on the Muslim community to be wary of what is happening in the world, and to ensure the atrocities committed against human beings — including Muslims — by persons purporting to be followers of Islam not be allowed to happen in this beautiful country of Guyana, where all people exist in great unity, respect and love.
Khan said that while the existence of the ideology which gave rise to these atrocities is evident, Muslim leaders here in Guyana must work feverishly to rid the community of the spread of this ideology.
He cautioned that Guyana needs to be very wary of Muslim scholars coming to these shores to give “performances” and to indoctrinate people.
The programme was chaired by ACIC’s Public Relations executive, TV Host Reyaz Hussain. Making brief remarks at the event were Liaison within the Ministry of the Presidency, Malcolm Harripaul, and Hajji Roshan Khan.
ASJA Public Relations Officer Shazard Ali also covered the event for IBN TV 8, the most popular TV Channel in Trinidad and Tobago.
Hosting of this year’s programme was dedicated to the late Mohamed Azeeze Imran, described as an ardent promoter of these kinds of events during his lifetime and as a dedicated member of ACIC. Though residing overseas, his family members continue to support these activities in his name.
The event, first observed in 2003, brings together leaders of all Muslim organisations and jamaats from across Guyana, as well as members of the wider society, in celebration of one of Islam’s greatest festivals.
