Govt, schools must be neutral on religion

Dear Editor,
Proselytizing does not belong in public institutions in a secular state like Guyana. During the colonial period, the state was de facto Christian; but with Independence, Guyana has subscribed to an official policy of state secularism, meaning: the state does not promote any religion.
The US, Canada, India, etc are secular nations, and preaching there is not allowed in public buildings or in schools. Even prayers are not allowed in public buildings in secular countries like the US. Thus no proselytizer and/or his cheerleaders should be allowed to proselytize in a public owned building like a school in Guyana.
Self-described Pastor Steven Anderson should never have been allowed to infiltrate the public school system, to corrupt young minds by preaching hateful values against Indians.  Such conduct is illegal and inappropriate, and must be rejected outright by every right-thinking person; and, most importantly, by state actors (Ministry of Education in particular). This crusade by the preacher is in direct conflict with the constitutional principle of separation of state and church.
It is most disappointing that the state has been silent on the issue of the pastor having a free rein to proselytize among the youths. The state is reminded that it must be neutral on religion, and not favour any faith; and it should never give a green light to spread hate or attack any faith. As bad as Burnham, Hoyte and Green were during the dictatorship, they never allowed anyone to publicly attack Hindus or Hinduism or Muslims.
No one should be subjected to hate-filled words in a public environment, and charges should be filed against those who violate Guyana’s Constitution on that matter. The preacher was imposing his diabolic values on students of all religious stripes. Worse, he was attacking people who don’t conform to his minority religious value. This is prohibited by the constitution, as also obtains in the United States.
The principal of Central High School, where the preacher was reported to have uttered the hate speech, has said that had she been approached, she would have provided equal access to other religious preachers as well.
Equal access is not the issue. As U.S. courts ruled, religious proselytization does not belong in a secular environment like publicly (state) owned structures. The principle applies to Guyana and all secular states.
Educators must be sensitive in regard to who they allow in their schools, and what is being said; hate speech and attack on people and on religions must never be permitted.
The state needs to instruct schools to keep haters far away from their doors, and to not allow anyone to spread their faith in classrooms.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram