At a Sunrise Glorification Service held this morning in observance of Guyana’s 60^th Independence Anniversary, Religious leaders from across the country underscored the need for greater unity, and an end to divisiveness and ethnic bias as the country turns a new chapter.

Addressing the gathering on the lawns of State House, Apostle Balgobin Ragnauth of Life Spring Ministries, said Guyana must bring an end to hate and racial biases for there to be unity among its people.  

“To achieve the country that we want to have, the one people, the one nation, with one destiny, some things got to be put away. Love don’t just happen, hate has to be put away. You heard me correctly, love just don’t happen, hate has to be put away. It will take a deliberate effort. Ethnic unity just don’t happen, racial biases must be put away. Somebody say put away! And if you chain your bad dog for convenience, that doesn’t mean you still don’t have the dog. If you lock up your ethnic biases just for a moment, that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t use it conveniently. But remember your dog is not my friend,” Apostle Ragnauth said.

Apostle Ragnauth said “deliberate” effort is needed to achieve togetherness, emphasizing that it requires both “effort” and “work” to achieve.

President of the Guyana Islamic Trust, Sheik Abdool Aleem, in his address, said since Guyana gained independence in 1966, Guyanese, with great determination, have shouldered the wheels of production and progress even in the face of endless challenges.

While saluting the country’s heroes, who laid the foundation, Sheik Aleem said as the country continues on the path of growth and development, it is important that the country channel its energies towards the promotion of peace and unity among citizens.

“We must be a people, who can solve problems not magnify them. The Quran teaches that all mankind came from Adam and Eve – one common source, one come origin. The most honorable in the sight of Allah are the ones who are most honorable in character and behavior, and service and obedience to God, and law abiding. These are the most honorable in the sight of God, not by our skin and our status,” President of the Guyana Islamic Trust said.

For her part, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, and President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Vindhya Persaud said Guyanese must act with courage.

“This morning remember you must act. Remember you must never act from a place of selfishness but definitely selflessness. Act you must, and in our action, you must look into each others’ eyes and see not fair but see our own dreams and hopes and aspirations, see our own families, see each other as one…and march forward as one people, and one Guyana,” Minister said.

In his address, President Irfaan Ali said while Guyana has gone through various stages of transformation, and continues to develop politically, economically and socially, faith remains the cornerstone of that development.

“This morning, from this podium, I position, that no society can advance without faith and our religious institution forming part of the backbone and bedrock upon which the nation mature and grow. So, beyond the economic and the political and social, I believe firmly that faith is an essential character for the growth and transition of any nation. And today, I call upon myself and the people of this beautiful nation to accept faith as a foundational pillar upon which this country will proceed,” the President said.

The interfaith service was held hours ahead of the 60^th Independence flag-raising ceremony set to take place this evening at Fort Island in the Essequibo.

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