…says “we embrace all religions and cultural celebrations”
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips and British High Commissioner, Jane Miller
As Guyanese from all walks of life unite to celebrate the Hindu festival of colours, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips has expressed that the spirit of the holiday is one the Government relies on to drive the development of the country.
He made this comment on Friday as the lawns of the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) came alive as Guyanese from all walks of life celebrated the Hindu festival of colours.
The event was organised by the High Commission of India in Guyana and was attended by President Dr Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Dr Amit Telang, among others.
Speaking at the celebrations, Minister Phillips reflected on the vibrancy and unity among the population as they celebrated Phagwah. He remarked that the Government draws on these qualities to develop Guyana.
“The symbolism of the celebrations talks about love, unity, renewal, and new beginnings for all of us. Holi is one of the festivals that we lean on as a Government to ensure unity and development,” he said.
He related that this is a perfect example of how the Guyana Government supports all holidays and all religious communities as currently Christians are observing Lent and the month of Ramadan is also being observed by the Muslim community.
“As we seek to develop Guyana and bring improvement to all the people of Guyana, through the celebration of all religious activities, be it Holi, Eid al-Fitr, Easter, or other religious and cultural activities, we embrace all religions and cultural celebrations as a Government,” he added.
President Dr Irfaan Ali during the celebrations
On that note, the Prime Minister pointed out the importance of the unification that the season brings.
“And it is our hope that in embracing Holi, the unification of our people will continue as we seek to utilise the revenue that we have been blessed with to improve the lives of all the people of Guyana,” he said.
But this is not the end for the cultural expressions to be witnessed, as the Minister highlighted that after the celebrations, there should be a continuation of the joy that was emitted during the season.
“Afterwards, we will continue with the use of colours to spread this whole joy of Phagwah. Colours themselves have symbolism—the different colours, light purple, yellows, blues, pink—all come together to form a huge spectacle, which we share among us, a spectacle that symbolises unity and togetherness,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Amit Telang, expressed that the celebrations should not be limited to only one community of people.
Holi celebrations at the Guyana National Stadium (DPI photo)
“This is not a celebration of a particular community, but there is a larger meaning attached to it, both in Guyana where we have religious and festive occasions like Holi. It is an occasion where all of us come together, which is certainly a true celebration of the spirit of life,” he said.
Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner, Jane Miller called for the reaffirmation of the values that the celebration embodies.
“We should also celebrate the beauty and culture shared within the country, really celebrating the beauty of this incredible country. Let’s reaffirm our commitment to the values that this celebration embodies—joy, togetherness, and respect for all cultures,” she said.
She added, “You should be proud to be a Guyanese, a country that celebrates culture with joy and unity—a time where people come together to have fun, because it’s that unity that makes us all stronger and makes Guyana stronger. So today, when we celebrate culture and youth, it’s a huge pleasure to have the kings and queens.”
