Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally has noted that the government of Guyana’s greatest task is to unify the nation for the good of all Guyanese and added that the administration is committed to achieving this goal.

The Minister made these remarks during her address to the residents of Leguan in Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three) on Sunday at the unveiling ceremony of a 52 foot murti (statue) of Lord Hanuman at the Rama Krishna Blenheim/Leguan Mandir.

According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, the Minister said that the goal of bringing people together has its challenges but that the administration is committed to ensuring the good life for all of the citizens of Guyana.

“I encourage you to love and respect each other, care for each other [and] work together in unity and dispel any attempt to divide you and you will be at ease and comfort with your inner self. Do not let politics destroy you progress in life. Let us build ourselves, our community and our country and surely we will be proud of ourselves,” she said.

Touching on development works occurring on the island, the Minister also highlighted the recent road construction that were undertaken as well as rehabilitative works to the sea defences, schools and drainage canals, and stated that these are all promises that have been fulfilled in an aim of ensuring that the residents of the island are comfortable and enjoy the good life.

The release noted that she commended the residents for the construction of the murti, stating that such structures help to establish, express and enhance the community’s relationship with God.

“The murti contains the living presence of the deity. It is more than a physical representation or a meditational tool… When an image like this is prepared according to spiritual prescriptions and is ritually infused by a spiritual authority, according to your beliefs, it becomes especially worthy of and conducive to worship,” she said.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Ms. Annette Ferguson, who also attended the event, expressed that it was an honour to, not only, celebrate with  the residents, but to also learn about the significance of the murti and to be educated in the Hindu culture.

According to the release, Pandit Sunil Sharma said that he was extremely grateful for the contributions made by the community and members of the Mandir towards the construction of the murti. He added that he was very grateful that Ministers Ally and Ferguson were able to join in the celebration of this special event for the community.

The 52 foot murti of Lord Hanuman now reportedly stands as the largest in Guyana.  Pandit Sharma said that the structure, which cost over $5 million, took approximately two years to be completed.