… slam coalition for “deceit”

The Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) said its leaders never endorsed the PNC-led A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition when they paid the political leaders of that party a visit on Thursday.

On Thursday, the APNU/AFC coalition via a press release said that its Presidential Candidate, Brigadier David Granger and Prime Ministerial Candidate Moses Nagamootoo, and other coalition leaders had met with prominent representatives of the Islamic Community in Guyana, noting that the meeting had taken place at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

According to the release, the group which included members of the ACIC and other religious leaders, outlined a lists of concerns facing the Muslim community in Guyana and in which, the Islamic leaders are reported to have said that it was time to put an end to the moral decay of society and for the development of Guyana to have a human face.

The Anna Catherina Islamic Complex

“In endorsing the APNU/AFC, the Muslim leaders noted that Guyana needed a fresh start, and that people were placing great expectation in the APNU/AFC,” the APNU statement said.

However, in a release to the media on Friday afternoon, Hakeem Khan, President of the ACIC, lashed out at the Opposition for using the meeting between the two entities to peddle a lie and to gain political mileage.

He noted that contrary to reports in the media, it has not endorsed the APNU/AFC coalition as reported, pointing out that he was shocked to know that the meeting with the APNU/AFC coalition has been used to interpret their presence as the ACIC endorsement for coalition.

Khan said that ACIC is Guyana’s main Islamic Centre and a centre of spirituality, education, peace, universal goodwill and harmony, and it was not and will not be used as a political institution. The man said that given the role of that organisation, it will work and support only the elected leaders of Guyana.

“We will work with the Government of the day, and of course, in much respect to the honourable members of the Opposition of the day. It has always enjoyed the blessings and support of the Government, and indeed, that of the Opposition, and all other religious, civic and non-governmental groups of the nation,” he said.

Khan said that had the APNU/AFC stated that ACIC and other Muslim Leaders had discussions and published photos, there would have been no complaints, but “ the fact that it stated our endorsement of  the party, is what we feel is most unfortunate, and causing the complex to lose it impartiality,” he said.

Khan said that as a result of the lies peddled by the APNU/AFC, its local and international partners, many of whom fund the organisation’s projects are dismayed at the supposition of an endorsement of a political party.

“We wish to make it clear that no mention was made of any endorsement as claimed.  We have respect for the APNU/AFC which always played a role at our various functions at our complex, as that was based on mutual respects and for the love of our country and people.  The Government was also extended similar invitations and courtesies. Visiting the Opposition Headquarter was an act of courtesy to communicate and seek the policies of the political party, and was never meant to give political endorsement to the party. This we are certain was recognised but we are uncertain as to how the miscommunication was issued,” he said.

He said that a delegation of ACIC and the wider Muslim community met with Prime Ministerial Candidate of the ruling party, Elisabeth Harper last week and raised a number of issues. Harper spent several hours, took photos and was in discussion for hours, but she nor her political party – the PPP/C – never used the meeting as an endorsement.

Meanwhile, Abdool Fazeel, the Imam of the ACIC, in distancing himself from the article related that “I am in no way connected, associated or in any way, shape or form, share the philosophy, ideology or political platform of the APNU/AFC.” He noted that the Opposition coalition should act in a mature and responsible way and should not use and abuse the honouring of an invitation as an endorsement.