President, First Lady attend interfaith service as Guyana ushers in Heritage Month
Georgetown, Guyana – (August 31, 2016) President David Granger and First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, this evening, attended an interfaith service to usher in Indigenous Heritage Month 2016. The event, which was well-attended, was held at the Indigenous Village at the National Exhibition Complex, Sophia.
A show of reverence during the Muslim prayer- From left- Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Ms. Valerie Garrido-Lowe, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock, First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger and President David Granger.
Prayers were done by various Indigenous groups in the Arecuna, Akawaio, Patamona, Makushi, Wapishana and Wai-Wai languages and by representatives of the Muslim, Hindu, Christian and Baha’i faiths and the Guyana Rastafarian Council.
The interfaith ceremony is essentially the curtain-raiser for the official launch of Indigenous Heritage Month tomorrow, Thursday, September 1, 2016 at 17:00hrs at the same venue as today’s event where the President will deliver the keynote address.
Following the launch, the Exhibition Complex will be a hive of activities with a week-long food and craft exhibition and cultural extravaganza. Then, onSeptember 10, all roads lead to Mainstay/Whyaka Village for this year’s Heritage Village Celebration.
This year’s celebrations are being held under the Theme: “Our Culture, Earth’s Future – Save the Environment, Live the Indigenous Way.”
President David Granger and Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock checking out some of the Indigenous delicacies served after the service
Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Mr. Sydney Allicock presenting a token to a young lady representing the Baha’i community
Members of the Hallelujah Group from Tasserene Village reciting a worship chant in their native language
A section of the gathering at the National Exhibition Complex, Sophia.