As unprecedented development continues to unfold across the country, President Dr Irfaan Ali has cautioned against the erosion of a strong value system, emphasising that the church has a vital role to play in preserving and strengthening those principles that make a nation stronger and more united.
The president also warned against “excessive materialism”, noting that success should not be solely measured by what a person owns.
He made the remarks on Saturday whilst addressing the centennial celebrations of the Caribbean Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Georgetown.
According to the Guyanese leader, true transformation is only complete when it strengthens not only the economy but also the moral foundations upon which a nation stands.
In this regard, President Ali emphasised the importance of maintaining a strong value system as he announced an initiative aimed at strengthening family time.
“As we continue to develop the streets of Georgetown, in the coming weeks I want to launch a programme and I look forward for the support of the Seventh-day Adventist movement, when on Sundays we can close off Main Street or one of the large streets in Georgetown. Every Sunday, close it off for families to come out and unite, play together, share a meal together, children riding bicycles and doing things together as one big Guyanese family. These are the things that will shape us,” he expressed.
“These are the things that will leave lasting moments in a nation’s life.”
The Head of State posited that regardless of the development taking place across the country and the wealth it is generating, “we have a soul that we must protect as a nation. We must have a value system that we protect as a nation”.
“We must have principles that we will protect as a nation. And those principles, values and the soul of the nation, I will say, without a shadow of a doubt, rest in faith, love, unity and the will of God…It is my personal and humble view that God must be at the center of every nation,” President Ali noted.
He added that, “history teaches us that economic transformation alone does not guarantee national success. Throughout the world there are examples of countries that became wealthier but not necessarily stronger. They became richer but not necessarily happier. They became more prosperous but not necessarily more united.”
Moreover, President Ali outlined that periods of rapid economic change often bring with them the danger of “excessive materialism”.
“They can develop a tendency to measure success solely by what we own, what we earn or what we acquire,” he noted, stressing that “the pursuit of wealth can become disconnected from the pursuit of goodness and righteousness.”
Therefore, he said, the church has a critical role to play as Guyana navigates this new era in its history.
According to President Ali, the church reminds that true development is always about character, integrity and compassion.
In this regard, he issued a call for the church to play a greater role in the lives of children and families.
“First, we must strengthen value-based education. The future of any nation rests in the hands of its young people. While schools teach knowledge and skills, values also must be taught and reinforced. The church can continue to instill honesty, discipline, respect, humility and responsibility in our youth,” President Ali said, adding that “the church has to become more involved in our school system, in our health care system”.
President Ali also urged the church play a greater role in strengthening families, noting that “strong nations are built upon strong families”.
“Economic growth can sometimes place pressure on family life. Longer working hours, changing lifestyles and social challenges can weaken family bonds. The church has a unique role in supporting marriages, strengthening parenting and nurturing healthy family relationships,” he posited.
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