Dear Editor,
As a group committed to the increasing social cohesion in Guyana, the Hindus for Selfless Service (HSS) would like to commend Sherlina Nageer for her letter “Who gave an American missionary permission to preach in Georgetown schools?” In schools, the Education Ministry permits clubs to be organised for all religions, which can then invite representatives of their religious persuasion to preach to them. And even then while we believe they should be free to expose children to their world view, it should not be done via “hate speech”.
We note that the group mentioned as preaching to classes at Central High School to students of all religious backgrounds, the Faith Word Baptist Church, was banned by South African authorities, In September 2016, South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Malusi Gigaba, announced his decision and said Pastor Steven Anderson – the group’s head and members of his church – are “undesirable persons”, as they “promote hate speech” and “advocate social violence…The promotion of equality binds the state and all persons to prevent and prohibit hate speech”.
Pastor Anderson had praised the Orlando nightclub shooting which left about 50 people dead and said “good news,” adding that there are “50 less pedophiles in the world.”
Additionally, he defended slavery: “…are there certain situations where God did indicate slavery, or for people to beat their servants? Absolutely. Of course! But you know what? It’s all right. And I agree with all of it. Why? Because the Bible is God’s word. That’s why.”
In the same vein, we note the letter in the Guyana Times newspaper from a UG student complaining about a UG English lecturer, Valarie Goorasammy Smith, who posted on her Facebook page, anti-Hindu hate speech she regularly expresses to her UG classes. Instructing Christians not to participate in the playing of the Hindu festival of Phagwah since, she claimed, her Christian religion “said you will love one and hate the other”.
We in HSS believe that in a multi-religious society as Guyana, we must accept the right of each citizen to their own practices and not preach “hate” against others.
Sincerely,
Praem N Rambharak,
General Secretary
Hindus for Selfless
Service (HSS)
