Message of His Excellency Brigadier David Granger, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on the occasion of Easter, April 21, 2019
Easter – the festival of happiness and hope
Easter is the single most sacred festival in the Christian calendar. It commemorates Jesus’s miraculous resurrection – the most important event in Christianity – which lies at the core of the Jesus’s ministry and mission on earth.
Betrayal, trial, crucifixion and resurrection are the mystery of mankind’s salvation.
Most Christians believe that Jesus came to atone for the sins of world and reconcile man to God. The Gospel of Luke [19: 10] announces Jesus’s mission: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Most Christians accept that Jesus’s crucifixion was a preordained sacrifice for the redemption of mankind and that his resurrection was a confirmation of the fulfilment of that mission. The Gospel of St John [17:4] recounts Jesus’s prayer to God: “I have glorified thee on earth. I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”
Easter celebrates the triumph of life over death, good over evil and hope over despair. The values of this festival ― life and hope ― are shared by the adherents of Guyana’s main religions. It is no surprise, therefore, that Easter, while quintessentially a Christian commemoration, is observed by all and celebrated as a national festival.
The Easter celebration has become a manifestation of social cohesion. It is a time when the barriers of class and ethnicity are broken and replaced by the bonds of goodwill. The Easter holiday ― the longest weekend in our country’s calendar ― brings Guyanese together, at home and in the diaspora, in fun-filled family reunions, kite-flying, picnics, regattas, rodeos and other outdoor activities.
The Easter celebration reminds us of this country’s geographic and demographic diversity. The Rodeo takes place in the Rupununi savannahs of the south, populated mainly by indigenous people. The Regatta is held at Bartica which located at the confluence of the great Essequibo, Mazaruni and Cuyuni rivers. Kite-flying across our country, is an ancient practice brought here by Chinese immigrants. Easter celebrates our diversity.
The Easter celebration radiates happiness and hope everywhere. Guyanese celebrating Easter this year can look towards the future with confidence. Peace and prosperity await us all.
The Easter celebration allows us to promote greater unity. We must use this sacred festival to reconcile ourselves not only to God but to one another by fostering a spirit of respect.
May the message of Easter become a source of strength for everyone as we work together to ensure a better future for all!
A happy Easter to all Guyanese!