The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) on Monday, August 17th, convened its Harmony Tour of Demerara, taking eighty-six (86) participants, fifty (50) children accompanied by thirty-six (36) guardians, on a guided journey through several of Georgetown’s most significant religious, cultural and historical landmarks.
The Commission was represented by its Chairman, Shaikh Moeenul Hack; Deputy Chairman, Mr. Charles Ogle; and Commissioners Mr. Norris Whitter, Ras Khafra, Reverend Rodwell Porter, Ms. Chandrowtie Sarran and Mr. Dwayne Adams.
The Harmony Tours, which is being done in collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority, are designed to give young Guyanese direct, first-hand exposure to the faiths, cultures and histories of the communities with whom they share their country, not as subjects read about in a classroom, but as places entered, people met and traditions observed at close hand.
The tour began at the Botanical Gardens and the Place of the Seven Ponds and concluded at the 1823 Monument on Carifesta Avenue.
Opening remarks were delivered by the Deputy Chairman of the ERC, Mr. Ogle, who observed that the Tour offered participants an experience that classroom instruction alone cannot provide.
“While we may learn in school about the names and traditions of the various religions practiced in Guyana, we do not often get the opportunity to visit these places and experience first-hand the richness and diversity of our faiths and cultures,” Mr. Ogle told participants at the assembly point.
He added that the most important lesson of the day was that, notwithstanding the differences among Guyana’s peoples, “we have far more in common than we have differences, we share the same country, the same history, and the same hopes for a peaceful and prosperous Guyana.”
The Chairman of the Commission, Shaikh Hack, in addressing participants, underscored the value of religious education as a foundation for unity. He noted that a sound understanding of the beliefs and practices of one’s neighbours places a person in the strongest position to foster tolerance and mutual respect, and that those equipped with such knowledge become the most effective ambassadors for harmony within their own families, schools and communities.
The religious component formed the heart of the day. Participants were welcomed into St. George’s Cathedral, one of the world’s tallest wooden churches; the Radha Krishna Mandir at Camp and Quamina Streets; the Queenstown Jama Masjid on Church Street, one of Guyana’s oldest Islamic institutions; and Sacred Heart Church on Main Street.
At each place of worship, participants were received by representatives of the respective faith communities and given the opportunity to learn about beliefs, practices and customs directly from those who observe them. Before entering each site, the children were briefed on the courtesies expected of them. For many of the young participants, it was the first time they had set foot inside a place of worship belonging to a faith other than their own.
Moreover, the route was deliberately constructed so that, as far as practicable, the respective ethnic groupings were featured prominently on the Harmony Tour. Indigenous heritage was marked at the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology, the oldest museum of anthropology in the English speaking Caribbean, and at the Umana Yana. African heritage and the struggle for freedom were commemorated at the 1763 Monument at the Square of the Revolution, the 1823 Monument on Carifesta Avenue, and the African Liberation Monument at Kingston. Indian heritage was marked at the Indian Arrival Monument on Camp Street and the Mahatma Gandhi Monument in the Promenade Gardens. Portuguese heritage was reflected at Sacred Heart Church, and Chinese Guyanese heritage at The Chinese Association of Guyana on Brickdam.
Parents, guardians and children alike expressed considerable appreciation for the initiative, with a number of guardians describing it as an experience they had not previously had the opportunity to give their children,
The Commission extends its sincere commendation and appreciation to the Guyana Defence Force, which provided the tour buses that transported participants throughout the day, and to the Guyana Police Force for its support in ensuring the safe movement of the group across Georgetown. The Commission further thanks the religious leaders, site managers and institutions who received participants and gave generously of their time and knowledge.
The Harmony Tour continues this week, with Essequibo scheduled for Wednesday, August 19, 2026, and Berbice for Friday, August 21, 2026.
As the Harmony Tour continues, the ERC remains committed to creating meaningful opportunities for all Guyanese to learn about the country’s diverse histories, cultures and faith traditions. Through education, dialogue and shared experiences, the Commission seeks to nurture a generation that not only understands and respects our differences, but recognises the common values and shared identity that binds us together as one.
