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Why an Inter-Religious TV Channel is dangerous for Guyana

Feb 17, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
This travesty really began in 2007…
I refer to the letter by Anthony Vieira (Kaieteur News, 2-16-11), captioned, “The planned Inter-Faith Channel will make all religious organisations subservient”, and would appreciate the opportunity to support his very detailed and forthright analysis!
We should also register our gratitude for his bringing to our attention the rather vaguely-labelled…but nonetheless similarly detailed and fortright…letter by Patricia Gonzalez, captioned, “An Open Letter to President Jagdeo”, (Kaieteur News 2/6/2011; https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2011/02/06/an-open-letter-to-president-jagdeo-2/).
How long is the real church in Guyana going to be silent? When, exactly, did it pawn its authority in Christ to “Bishop” Edghill or the President?
The CIOG makes no bones on articulating its displeasure…or agreement…on issues affecting its community!
And now…the radical…even lunatic…position adopted by “Bishop” Juan Edghill makes for a situation where silence cannot any longer be considered an option. Nowhere is this more evident than in the following excerpt from Ms. Gonzalez’s letter:
“…Further Mr. President Christians are appalled having listened to Bishop Juan Edghill’s discourse on Channel 11 on Sunday 30th January 2011. In his discourse in explaining about the activities planned by the IRO, Bishop Edghill emphasised that in the planned visits to schools and other institutions, should Christians have to pray at those gatherings, that we would not be permitted to pray in the name of Jesus. Mr. President, such a thing is anathema! …”
One senses that the time is surely near when the brightest and best among us must be silent no longer!
As far back as 2007, we had documented the tragic “history” of this rather obnoxious development in “Why an Inter-religious TV Channel is Dangerous for Guyana” (http://www.topix.com/forum/world/guyana/TLAHSFTJJ0VLT8KRT ). Stabroek News’ coverage of the same letter has long since disappeared from its online edition … for reasons best known to its management!
An excerpt of that 2007-document reads:
“… The only guarantee given by government’s involvement in an “Inter-Religious TV Channel” seems to be deception. Enter the small Stabroek News article (“Inter Religious Television group elects Edghill chairman”; 3/10/07; http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_…). Edghill has long been a convenient front for governmental mischief, and has incurred the wrath of opposition parliamentarians before…I submit that neither Juan Edghill, Ronald McGarrel nor Swami Ashkarananda represents the Christian or democratic position…
We should therefore be wary of this “Presidential directive”. It seems to be the first round in signalling draconian, even punitive, Broadcast Legislation. And Juan Edghill seems bent on leading the Christian community right into this trap…
I copied “unofficial minutes” to the church after my first, and only, attendance at an IRO meeting held on June 9, 2005 under the theme “How to Propagate Faith without Offence”. The verbatim comments of many participants, included in the transcript dated 6-16-05, are devastating in their portent of anarchy and opposition to the Judeo-Christian ethic. It is available by writing [email protected]….
The implications for the upcoming Broadcast Legislation are also clear. Such a “project” would inevitably mean that taxation/financial/policy pressure would be brought to bear by the administration on Christian programming, and the private media. This “Inter Religious Television Channel” is an attempt to control, not to “accommodate”.
Guyanese generally should say with a loud voice that they want no part of it …”
Mr, Vieira’s … and Ms Gonsalez’s … analyses validate these views outlined since 2007!
We thank God for Ms. Gonsalez’s strong and eloquent rebuttal, and Mr. Vieira’s resolve and determination on this issue!
Roger Williams

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