GUYANA is known for its multiculturalism and religious freedom. The Constitution of Guyana speaks to a secular state where religious freedoms are enshrined in law and where there is separation of the state from religion.

There is complete freedom of worship and all religions and religious beliefs are treated equally. There is no state-sponsored religion as is the case in some jurisdictions.
What makes Guyana unique is the degree of religious tolerance among its citizens. We are blessed with a country characterised by ethnic, cultural and religious diversity. We not only respect, but we also celebrate our religious diversity as is manifested in the manner in which Guyanese from all religious beliefs celebrate each other’s religious festivities.
Simply put, there is no place for cultural or religious bigotry. The Constitution provides for freedom of religion and worship and the right to choose and change one’s religion.
No citizen is compelled to take part in any religious education, ceremony or observance of a religion without the individual’s consent. The Constitution forbids taking an oath contrary to one’s religion.

The Constitution mandates the establishment of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) with the aim of promoting ethnic harmony, eliminating ethnic discrimination and encouraging respect for religious diversity. In fact, the ERC includes representatives of the country’s main religions, namely Christianity, Hinduism and Islam.
Unfortunately, such principles and values are not universally observed and there are instances of ethnocentrist tendencies.
Only recently President, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali had cause to lash out at what he described as ‘Islamophobia,’ which he said is a social malaise that fosters hatred, prejudice, bias and discrimination against persons based on their identification as Muslims. This ‘social disease’, according to President Ali, could be countered through education and dialogue.
The above observations were made by President Ali during the opening ceremony of the two-day International Symposium on the History and Legacy of Muslims in the Caribbean.
The conference was hosted by Guyana in collaboration with the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) and the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Guyana is home to a sizeable number of Muslims whose contributions to the economic, cultural and architectural landscape of the country have been significant. Guyana now has the distinction of being the only country in the Caribbean and the Americas with a Muslim Executive President. This speaks volumes of our multiculturalism, religious diversity and tolerance.

In the words of President Ali, ‘Guyana can be a ‘case study for the rest of the world where persons of different faiths make up the cabinet, the parliament ……and the seamless integration through which each supports the other is one that not only warrants attention, but warrants a case study.’
We are indeed fortunate to live in a society that is evolving to a new and higher levels of inclusivity and tolerance based on the “One Guyana” concept as envisaged by President Ali where every Guyanese, regardless of ethnicity, religious beliefs or political affiliation is treated equally and is provided with an opportunity to grow and develop to the full extent of his/her potential.