Recently-appointed Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton on Monday held introductory meetings with representatives of various religious and social groups to ensure continuity and increased areas of collaboration as part of advancing the social cohesion agenda.
The meetings were held with representatives of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG); the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA); the Viraat Sabha Organisation; the Guyana Rastafarian Association and the Guyana
Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton and Technical Officer within the Ministry, Pamela Nauth (left) pose with members of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana – Treasurer Raza Ally (centre), Director of Education Shaikh Moeen-ul-Hack and President (ag) Shabudeen Ahmad
Islamic Trust (GIT).
During each meeting, the Minister said that he was a strong believer in an “open door” policy and added that the Ministry would continue to work with such agencies to not only address their own considerations, but to collaborate effectively in order to bring Guyanese, regardless of ethnicity, social class, religion, geographic location and political affiliation, closer together.
Director of Education within the CIOG, Shaikh Moeen-ul-Hack said that the organisation was happy with the Minister’s appointment and pledged the same cooperation that was given before for the advancement of the Ministry’s social cohesion agenda.
“Social cohesion is one of the objectives of Islam and the CIOG; it is part of our religion… Our scriptures speak about unity, not only among members of the faith, but those outside of the faith… So we are either brothers and sisters in faith or in humanity… Our religion is very strict when it comes to the rights of non-Muslim brothers and sisters,” he said.
Representatives of the GIT iterated similar sentiments. GIT Administrative Council member Wazir Baksh said that the organisation was also looking forward to working with the Minister to establish a core group of representatives that will represent all the Muslims across Guyana from various organisations and mosques.
Meanwhile, ACDA Executive Member, Dr Eric Phillips highlighted the need to focus on the economic rights of various peoples with regard to encouraging cohesion.
Pandit Ravi Persaud, representative of the Viraat Sabha Organisation, told the Minister that it was important to look at unity among the Hindu community, which would then augur well for social cohesion as a whole.
Members of the Guyana Rastafarian Association said that their community could also help to spread the word of social cohesion through their use of music and art, and expressed their willingness to work with the Minister in this and other areas in order to help promote national unity.
Following the meeting, Minister Norton said that he was impressed by the readiness of the organisations to work with the Ministry to foster a strong relationship going forward and added that he looked forward to charting a fruitful course of action within the Ministry.
