The United Nations Association of Guyana (UNAG) in collaboration with the European Commission (EC) yesterday formally launched the Project for Peace, Human Rights, Reconciliation, Democracy and Development. Varshnie Singh of Kids First Fund was the first to openly pledge her organisation’s support for the EC funded project.
A contract was signed last Tuesday by UNAG and EC endorsing the receipt of funds for the project. This initiative, said to be the first of its kind undertaken in Guyana, is expected to “nurture a culture of peace” and promote other national peace programmes.
Hinds, who is currently performing the duties of President, said that now more than ever Guyana needs the elements proposed by the UNAG/EC project. These things, according to him, are much more within our grasp and understanding now than they were decades ago.
“Which man or woman does not long for these?” Hinds questioned “These are powerful notions, fermenting many emotions.”
He further described the fight for peace, human rights, reconciliation, democracy and development as “wars to end wars”. There is no doubt, Hinds pointed out, that it would have been mankind’s aspirations ever since biblical times to achieve the aims of the UNAG/EC project. However, he repeated that such things do not come easily to men. It was in this context Hinds quoted a biblical verse, Luke Chapter 12 verses 51 to 53: “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
On this note the Prime Minister continued to question, “Can we really get developed?” and “How can we get there through trials and tribulations?” Hinds stated that Guyana’s situation, referring to the struggle for peace since independence, has always been foremost in his mind.
“Now you must be wondering why I am speaking so philosophically,” Hinds said, “and why I am speaking of history and the French, American and Russian revolutions… I can hardly speak to the here and now… I would sound partisan and would abuse the current platform.”
The Prime Minister’s comments were in part prompted by a short statement made by retired judge Donald Trotman who is currently UNAG’s president. Trotman insisted that Guyanese should be thankful for this project which he described as a historical joining with the European community.
It was time, he said, Guyanese “pulled themselves up” and tried to address the burning issue of conflict and political unrest which has plagued our country for more than 50 years. This, according to Trotman, is the time for us to “heal” and “build new bridges”.
The success of the UNAG/EC project, he said, depends greatly on the support of the government, opposition parties, judiciary system and many other private and governmental bodies. Trotman further assured that the funds received for the project will be used fairly to achieve its aims.
“Let there come a time,” Trotman told the gathering at the Carnegie School of Economics yesterday, “a time so soon, when we can say to them in the Diaspora, come back home my brother, come back home my sister, this is your country, your home.”
Trotman warned that now was the time for us to acknowledge our country’s call for peace, human rights and democracy. If the need for these things is ignored, he said, then we will let our past destroy our current development and our future will be destroyed before it is born.
Meanwhile, EC Ambassador to Guyana Geert Heikens congratulated all those involved in getting the current project together. He pointed out that this is the first time such a corps has been launched here. He also said that the European Community intends to get Guyana involved in its environmental programmes.
