Guyana supports the free practice of religion-US report

Georgetown – 2010 US State Department International Religious Freedom Report which was released on November 17th, 2010 cites government’s respect for religious freedom based on its laws which protect the right of individuals to choose and change religions and to their own interpretation of religious beliefs. According to the report there were no reports of forced religious conversions or societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief or practice since members of all religious groups are allowed to worship freely. Government imposed no requirements regarding religion for any official or non official purposes and there is no monitoring of religious groups. Parents are allowed to send their children to the schools of their choice without sanction or restriction, the report stated. The Guyana Defense Force (GDF) coordinated with civilian religious groups to provide personnel with access to religious services involving leaders of all major religious groups. However, with regards to restrictions on religious freedom the report cited the detention of approximately 40 foreign Mormon missionaries who were detained for a hearing on their immigration status after which they were ordered to depart the country within one month. There were no other reports of religious prisoners or detainees in the country. Guyana observes the following religious holidays as national holidays for the three main religious groups; Good Friday, Easter Monday and Christmas for Christians, Phagwah and Diwali for Hindus and You-Man-Nabi and Eid-Al Adha for Muslims