“Easter is no fleeting happiness… It is a season of hope” – Pres Ali

– Christ’s resurrection reminds that despair is never the final word – PM Phillips

President Dr Irfaan Ali is reminding Guyanese not to forget the central message of triumph over sin and death that Easter heralds, bringing a season of hope and joy.
He made these remarks in his 2026 Easter message to citizens, both those here and abroad. As the central theme of his message, the Head of State cited Psalm 30:5: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
“How disconsolate it must have been for the followers of Jesus on that first Good Friday night when the sun hid her face, when the earth trembled, and hope herself was laid in a borrowed tomb. But Easter brought its own glory. Before the first bird chirped, before the dew had dried, the stone was rolled away. Christ arose! Like a golden torrent, joy came rushing in. That empty grave is the eternal womb of our rejoicing,” the President stated. According to Ali, Easter is the very heartbeat of the Christian faith. He said, ‘Take away the Cross, and you have no story; take away the Resurrection, and you have only an empty grave.’
“But because He lives – oh, because He lives! – fear is but a shadow, death a door, and sorrow a passing guest. Easter is no fleeting happiness. Easter is joy as deep as the ocean, as ancient as the stars, and stronger than the grave,” Dr Ali posited.
Drawing the celebrations closer to home, the Guyanese leader said it is fitting that this extended Easter weekend will see the heavens take wing, with kites of every colour leaping into the skies, pulling eyes and hopes heavenward across the country. In Bartica, the shoreline thunders with the regatta. In the rustic Rupununi, the rodeo becomes a carnival of cheer, courage, and cowboys. Across the coastland, families will gather for picnics in open spaces and along sun-kissed beaches. On the Corentyne, horse racing becomes a spectacle of speed, pride, and excitement. And the people, young and old, turn to one another with faces bright as morning, and the air fills with a chorus of gladness: “Happy Easter! Happy Easter!”

“Yet in all our festivities, let us not forget the central message of this day. Easter heralds the triumph over sin and death. It is a season of hope. Whatever night you have walked through loss, loneliness, or longing, lift up your eyes on this glorious day. Joy is not a memory. It is a morning. And that morning has already dawned.”
“I extend greetings for a radiant and joyful Easter! May this sacred dawn fill your cup to overflowing, and may your homes dance with the light of heaven’s own gladness… Rejoice, Guyana! The tomb is empty. He lives. Joy cometh, and it is here to stay,” President Ali declared. Similarly, Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips also extended warm Easter greetings to every household across Guyana and in the diaspora. He said Easter is observed as one of the most auspicious and reverent occasions on the Christian calendar because of its significance – the unfolding of a story that speaks about sacrifice.
“We are taught of the solemn moments of the Last Supper, where Christ broke bread with those who would soon doubt and betray him, to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he wrestled with anguish, to the cross, where he chose forgiveness even while suffering. The story of Easter does not shy away from the reality of hardship; yet, it does not end there. And even as the story goes beyond his death, so too are we reminded through Christ’s resurrection that despair is never the final word,” PM Phillips noted.
According to the PM, the world today can often feel uncertain and divided, and in those moments, it is the lessons of the Easter story that call people back to values of faith and compassion. In fact, he reminded us that despite the cruelty meted out to Him, Christ chose to respond in grace rather than spite and vengeance, and that choice remains one of the greatest lessons that people can carry into their daily lives. PM Phillips too outlined that in Guyana, citizens hold tightly to their traditions because they ground us as one people.
“Easter is one of those moments when faith and culture meet in a unique way. Our churches fill with prayer and reflection, and across our open spaces and seawalls, the skies come alive with kites in the thousands – a rare occurrence in other parts of the world.”
“Those kites are a symbol of Christ’s resurrection as well as the spirit of the Guyanese people who understand that hope, much like those kites, must always keep us elevated with one purpose. Generation after generation, we pass down this tradition because it represents our Guyanese identity,” Phillips stated.
As citizens reflect on the message of Easter this year, the PM urged that everyone also look inward at how they treat one another, how they serve their communities, and how they respond when faced with challenges. He pointed out that the resurrection calls us to rebuild where there is brokenness and to stand firm in hope when circumstances test us.
“This season is also an opportunity for renewal of our commitment to building a stronger, more united Guyana. So, may this Easter remind us that even in our most difficult moments, there is always the possibility of new direction and new beginnings. May the risen Christ guide our hearts and bless our beautiful country. Happy Easter, and may God continue to bless Guyana,” PM Phillips stated.