-with completion of five-year Social Cohesion Strategic Plan

Georgetown, Guyana (May 19, 2017) – “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” is Guyana’s motto and while the country is multi-ethnic, multicultural and multi-religious, the vision of His Excellency, President David Granger is to build a socially cohesive Guyana, where there

Reflecting on the struggles of our ancestors, President Granger reminded that on the plantations they were treated as unequal members of society, noting too that the onus is on this generation to eradicate inequality in Guyana by building an inclusionary society.
Expressing similar sentiments, Chairman of East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six), Mr. David Armogan said it is imperative that all Guyanese learn from the examples of their ancestors, who lived in unity with each other. He pointed out that “One of the major characteristics that kept them going was that they lived in unity and harmony, not only among the indentured labourers that came… they also coexisted very well in unity and harmony with the [former] slaves, who began to work in

smaller places where they had bought.”

Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, speaking at an outreach in the East Coast Demerara village of Mon Repos, on Arrival Day, underscored the importance of all Guyanese working together for the development of Guyana. Pointing to the inclusionary and non-discriminatory nature of the Administration as it relates to access to resources and services, Minister Harmon stressed that political affiliation, ethnicity or any other such factor does not determine how Government allocates resources.

He said, “We have to ensure that all of our communities are developed in an equitable way. We cannot have one area of a community developed and the other area left back because of political voting patterns. We cannot have one area developed and another left back because of ethnic polarisation. We require, in our country, a cohesive society. We require, in our country, a oneness of purpose and that is the only way we can take the benefits of all that is happening.”

Minister Harmon said that the administration has placed significant focus on strengthening the capacity of the people and improving their lives and will continue to do so as the country progresses, citing that the country is on the cusp of greatness. This he attributed to the oil discovery made off-shore Guyana by United States oil giant, ExxonMobil, in an area known as the Stabroek Block. In January 2017, ExxonMobil also announced positive results from its Payara-1 well offshore Guyana. Payara is ExxonMobil’s second oil discovery on the Stabroek Block.

Enhancing and promoting social cohesion is a national endeavour and towards this end, the Social Cohesion Strategic Plan 2017-2021, which was recently handed over to Prime Minister, Mr. Moses Nagamootoo, suggests roles and provide indications of programmatic actions that can be undertaken by various stakeholders towards the goal of a cohesive society, where all diversities are embraced and where all have equal stake and share in the national patrimony. Social Cohesion is aimed at encouraging greater equality and building bridges across the boundaries of class, ethnicities, gender and geography.

At this year’s Social Cohesion Day activity, celebrated on May 11, Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. George Norton said that the Government is now better positioned to build a unified Guyana. He called on every Guyanese to do all that is possible to ensure social cohesion becomes a reality.
While acknowledging that the road ahead is a long one, Dr. Norton said that with consistent effort the country will arrive where it needs to be and live up to its motto. This he pointed out can be achieved since his Ministry now has a more structured and systematic approach to advancing the social cohesion agenda, that is the Social Cohesion Strategic Plan 2017-2021.
According to Minister Norton, “The implementation plan outlines the direction or the initiatives the Ministry would undertake over the next four and five years. The effective implementation requires that we all work together as one people to ensure that we chart the way forward to achieving social cohesion. Everyone has a role to play in the process as we are all architects of social cohesion.”

Representatives of the three main religious groups in Guyana echoed the resounding call for tolerance and respect for each other’s religion and underscored the vital importance of unity in building a progressive and cohesive Guyana.
Director of Education at the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), Shaykh Moeenul Hack said that the three religions have many things in common, especially the concept of unity and respect, which are pivotal to the advancement of any society. He said, “We must accept diversity as a fact of life and it is one of the signs of the Creator; of His power to create human beings of different races, different languages et cetera .…and nothing is wrong with this.”

Mr. Hack noted that the challenge now is not only to tolerate but to educate ourselves thoroughly about our obligations to the Creator. He believes that the foundation can be built for persons to accept diversity.
Chairman of the Hindu Core Group, formed by the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Mr. Jaidev Dudhnath said that without unity the nation cannot move forward, therefore it is imperative that all groups unite in pursuit of the common goal of development.
“We have to do much more awareness to tell our children especially… Let them know how important is unity; how it is imperative that we learn to appreciate and tolerate other people’s culture. So like all other religious grouping, Hindus have a pivotal role; a critical role to disseminate and create this awareness among the following,” Mr. Dudhnath said. He reminded of the old adage, “united we stand, divided we fall,” emphasising the need for a cooperative effort in developing Guyana.

Senior Pastor of the Eccles Assemblies of God, Michael Perreira called on Guyanese to think beyond their personal sphere of activities noting that it is inconceivable that meaningful development can take place in the absence of unity. “Unity brings progress. It ensures development and it will definitely result in a sense of belonging. No man is an island; no man stands alone… Unity is of vital importance,” Pastor Perreira said, noting that respect and tolerance for the cultures and religions of others must begin in the home.
This administration continues to push its mandate of bringing the people together, and the work of the Ministry seeks to ensure that Guyana develops a healthy environment where diversities are embraced and conflicts resolved.

The Ministry of Social Cohesion holds the responsibility to support development of an environment where diversities are embraced and conflicts resolved. It endeavours to do this by ensuring a number of things, which include the reduction of income disparities caused by poverty, eradication of inequality, embracing of inclusivity at both the political and social levels, reducing unemployment, ensuring equal access to education, harmonising social relations and effective management of the country’s multiculturalism.