From left, outside Town Hall on Mackenzie's Republic Avenue, taking salute at march past are Mr. Mortimer Mingo, Prime Minister Sam  Hinds, Chief Magistrate Juliet Holder-Allen and IMC Chairman Orrin Gordon. (Joe Chapman photo)

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Govt. allays Youman Nabi holiday fears
By Jaime Hall

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manzoor Nadir (fifth from left) before Youman Nabi observances began yesterday at the CIOG headquarters, met members of a delegation visiting from Suriname.
GOVERNMENT has reiterated its position that it will guarantee the protection of the rights of all religion and will not allow any of its policy decisions to affect religious holiday observances.

This assurance was given by Tourism Minister, Mr. Manzoor Nadir yesterday during a ceremony at the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (GIOG) headquarters, Woolford Avenue, where a few hundreds gathered to observe Youman Nabi.

Speaking on behalf of President Bharrat Jagdeo, Mr. Nadir, who embraces the Islamic faith, said people may have been confused by media reports during last week as the National Assembly was preparing to approve two new national holidays - Arrival Day May 5 and Independence Day May 26.

He said the Youman Nabi ceremony, though religious in nature, was the appropriate forum to clear the air on rumors circulating about the removal of Youman Nabi as a holiday in favour of Eid-ul-Adha.


A section of the gathering at the CIOG Youman Nabi observances.

Prayers as Youman Nabi was being observed.
A committee was established to review the Public Holidays Act and one of the recommendations that came out of that discussion was that there be consultations with the Muslim Community to determine whether Youman Nabi or Eid-ul-Adha would be the national holiday.

On this particular discussion, it was not that the Parliamentary Select Committee was in favour of one of the holidays over the other. But there was a recommendation based on the submission of one organization that there be consultations, the Minister explained.

For both holidays there are very good arguments in favour of each, but nationally, the reality is that there will be two public holidays that will be given to the Muslim Community, like the Hindu and Christian Communities as well.

The Hindu national holidays are Phagwah and Diwali, while the Christians observe Christmas and Easter as their national holidays.