– at ERC religious harmony conference
President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday urged religious leaders to have dialogue on discovering means to deal with social ills such as incest and alcoholism in their various communities.

Speaking at the opening of an Ethnic Relations Commis-sion (ERC)-hosted conference for religious leaders at the Guyana International Con-ference Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, President Jagdeo noted that these issues transcend race, religion and status. He added that the discussion of them will forge greater ties among the various leaders thereby contributing to the ERC’s mandate of fostering good relations among the religious groups. The President commended the ERC for bringing the religious leaders together. He also encouraged religious leaders to take what they learn from the discussions yesterday back to their respective organisations and inculcate the new standards.

The forum was held in a bid to create harmony among the various religious groups in our multicultural society, with a keen focus on promoting peace through dialogue. The day-long group interaction was facilitated by volunteers who themselves are religious leaders.

Chairman of the ERC Bishop Juan Edghill who also spoke at the opening of the one-day conference, said it was a forum where areas of conflict and sensitivity among groups could be examined.

The bishop was keen to point out that the ERC was not promoting a “one world religion” which some persons may be thinking but that the emphasis is on the formation of new and lasting relationships among the various religious sects.

The conference was considered the first of its kind as it is the first time that religious groups and denominations have met under one roof to chart a way forward so that religious harmony would prevail.

In recent months the ERC has initiated inter/intra community dialogue meetings in Bartica and surrounding area and in villages on the East Coast Demerara to address race issues, particularly after the Bartica and Lusignan slaughters.