Only in an atmosphere of peace can Guyana move forward-President

PresidentGeorgetown: President Donald Ramotar Saturday evening joined with hundreds of Guyanese gathered at the Guyana International Conference Centre in the annual Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s Phagwah Mela and Bazaar

This is the first major event in honour of the Hindu Festival of Phagwah, to be observed on March.

President Ramotar pointed to the message of Phagwah which denotes the triumph of good over evil. “Indeed it’s a message that never grows old and will never grow old, because it is always something we have to aspire to…because it is only in an atmosphere of peace that we can move forward and develop our country,” he said.

The Head of State urged Guyanese to remain committed to the fight to maintain freedom and to fight against “all forms and all measures that are used to keep us back in the fight against crime.”

Noting that Government has been working hard towards this, he pointed to the actions of the political opposition in the National Assembly.

President Ramotar pledged Government’s commitment to the continued struggle for a crime free and peaceful environment “where our people can produce and develop in an atmosphere free of crime and free of evil.”

He expressed the hope that the festival of Phagwah, its traditions and colours which transform all into one while allowing sense to prevail “and we would do our best for all the people of our country.”

The Mela is an annual fair, and is highlighted by Hindu cultural activities featuring song and dance and in recent times a Folk Dance Competition. Booths at the event offered Indian items such as costume jewellery, movies, dishes and other attractive items.

The festival of Phagwah is observed by Hindus worldwide and signals the advent of spring and the reaping of the harvest. It also denotes the triumph of good over evil.