Reject division, deception, revenge – McCoy urges during Navaratri celebrations

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Kwame McCoy has urged Guyanese to reject deception, misinformation and attempts to divide society, while emphasising the importance of truth, righteousness and collective responsibility in national development.

He made the call on Monday during Navaratri celebrations at Sanskaar Bhaarati International Guyana Hindu Mandir at Diamond, East Bank, Demerara, where he addressed devotees observing the nine nights of the Hindu festival.
McCoy said Navaratri provides an opportunity for spiritual renewal and reflection, encouraging individuals to examine their actions and consider how their conduct affects their families, communities and the wider society.
He commended the devotees for their commitment to observing the festival and for their continued leadership in their place of worship, noting that the significance of Navaratri extended beyond religious observance.
The Minister said the spiritual lessons associated with the festival should guide people in confronting negative influences and promoting values that strengthen society.
He also cautioned against individuals who engage in deception and mischief or seek to create divisions, arguing that such actions could undermine social cohesion and derail national progress.
“These are aimed at derailing progress and development and at creating setbacks for us as a society. We must confront them as our responsibility as devotees and as citizens of our beautiful country,” McCoy said.
He urged devotees to draw on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita to guide their conduct and reinforce their responsibilities as members of their respective religious communities and as citizens of Guyana.
McCoy further warned against allowing falsehood, envy and personal grievances to influence public life, stressing that national development requires people to prioritise the welfare of their communities over personal interests.
“A society cannot move forward if it allows falsehood to become a weapon, envy to become a motive, and revenge to become a substitute for reason and responsibility,” he said.
According to the Minister, the pursuit of personal revenge should never take precedence over the well-being of communities or the future of the country.
He said the triumph of righteousness should not be measured solely by defeating an adversary but by upholding truth, preserving human dignity and creating an environment in which people can live and work together peacefully.
“The true victory of righteousness is not simply the defeat of an adversary but more so the triumph of truth, the preservation of human dignity and the creation of a society where all of us can live together, work and prosper in peace,” McCoy said.
He congratulated the devotees on completing the nine nights of Navaratri, encouraging them to continue applying the spiritual lessons of the festival in their daily lives.