United fight needed

AMID the myriad challenges occasioned by COVID-19, it is important that all interest groups, regardless of their differences, band together as a single unit in the fight against the virus.
With over 250 lives lost to the virus and thousands infected, a united effort by all stakeholders is needed now than at any time before. In the fight against the novel coronavirus, many in civil society have given their time and resources voluntarily and have done so with great pride.
Undoubtedly, they saw their effort as not only along the lines of helping their fellow Guyanese in need, but being of service to humanity.
The assistance given by individuals and organisations thus far has been diverse, ranging from monetary donations, support for hamper drives and making their premises available for services provided by the government.
In service to their fellow Guyanese, they do not see status, race and religious differences but service to humanity, a central tenet of the established religions in Guyana, which include Hinduism, Islam and Christianity.

Guyana could boast of being among the countries in the world that enjoy religious tolerance.
In Guyana, Hindus, Muslims and Christians live harmoniously among each other, attend each other’s places of worship and celebrate the festival of each other.
As a people with common backgrounds and struggles, they also look out for one another. They embrace spiritual enlightenment and religious tolerance.
The unity among religious groups, therefore, has been strong before COVID-19 and should remain unshaken during the fight against the pandemic.
No one should allow partisan, uninformed and irresponsible statements by any religious leader to divide them and must correct these with sound reason when they occur.
In the fight against the pandemic, all the religious groups have played their part in raising awareness against the virus, helping the needy and supporting the vaccination drive.
It would be fair to say that some have done more than the other but, regardless, they never sought public praise and attention and, for this, they must be commended.
The seeking of praise or attention for work, especially by religious leaders, is not a practice sanctioned by any of the major religions of Guyana and is unhelpful in the prevailing circumstance, as the nation battles COVID-19 which has taken a toll on families and practically all the productive sectors of the economy.
COVID-19 knows no status, race, religion or political affiliation. It has taken lives and caused sufferings with discrimination.

Therefore, whenever a vaccine is administered, it is administered on a Guyanese, someone who is eligible based on the requirements established by the health authorities and not on the basis of religion, whether Hinduism Christianity, Islam or Rastafarianism.
As such, it is irresponsible for anyone to make statements to the contrary without evidence. Misguided statements have the potential to create mistrust and unhealthy relationships among representatives in the religious community.
And now is not the time for such unease—there should be no such time. Now is the time for all to work together to ensure all the vulnerable folks are vaccinated regardless of their religious beliefs and at which religious institution the vaccination is administered.
More than 50,000 Guyanese have been vaccinated thus far and Guyana would soon be leading the region in the vaccination drive.
It is also important that the leadership of the various religious groups continue to support the fight against COVID-19 and everyone adheres to the national COVID-19 guidelines to guard against the contraction and spread of the virus.
The over 250 deaths locally due to COVID-19 is heart-breaking and the over 10,000 cases of infection are way too many.
All must play a role in bringing the virus under control and flattening the curve.

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