Officially, there are four legally recognized religions in Guyana

Aug 06, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
Your distinguished and loyal columnist Freddie Kissoon in his Aug 05, 2017 feature stated that “The Muslim wedding ceremony and funeral services are the shortest in the three main religions we have in Guyana”. Two points I wish to enlighten my friend and favorite columnist Freddie about.
By Act of Guyana Parliament there are four major religions we have in Guyana – Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and the Baha’i Faith which was enacted by an Act of parliament. In the late 1960s a building was acquired at 220 Charlotte Street in Bourda, Georgetown which functioned as a meeting place and later became the Bahá’í National Centre. This was a large two-storey colonial style wooden structure that was later replaced by the attractive building which stands there today.
In 1970, the growing maturity of the community in the region was marked by the first election of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana. This body administered the affairs of the Faith at the national level in these three countries.
In 1976 the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies had increased markedly and a National Spiritual Assembly for the Bahá’ís of Guyana was elected. This body, which is re-elected annually, represents the whole of the Bahá’í community in Guyana. Also in the same year the National Spiritual Assembly was incorporated by Special Act of Parliament. A few years later further recognition came with the appointment by Ministry of Home Affairs of Bahá’í marriage officers allowing Bahá’í marriages to be legal.
I was in the parliament gallery that evening and witnessed that historic event. The Baha’i Faith is not a sect or cult. Its Founder is Baha’u’llah, a Persian noble man. In 1976 the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies in Guyana had increased markedly and a National Spiritual Assembly for the Bahá’ís of Guyana was elected. This body, which is re-elected annually, represents the whole of the Bahá’í community in Guyana. Also in the same year the National Spiritual Assembly was incorporated by Special Act of Parliament. A few years later further recognition came with the appointment by the Ministry of Home Affairs of Bahá’í marriage officers allowing for Bahá’í marriages to be legal.
Some of teaching of the Baha’i Faith are there is one God, one religion and mankind is one. Across Guyana Bahais can be found in almost every community. Baha’i teaching is based on the oneness of God, oneness of religion and oneness of mankind. Baha’u’llah a Perian nobleman was the Founder of this major religion.He was impriioned and also exile from His homeland Persia, to Akka in today Israel. He died a prisoner for His teachings, in 1892. In every country of the globe today one can find several Baha’i communities
Rooplall Dudhnath

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