October 20, 2014 By
CIOG representatives and government officials look on as the symbolic cutting of the ribbon to officially open the Masjid (Marceano Narine photo)
The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) on Sunday commissioned a newly-reconstructed Masjid and multi-complex at Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara.
The project was sponsored by the Zakat House of Kuwait, an international aid organisation which provided a whopping $90 million for the construction of the multi-complex. Zakat House was established in 2009 to support and work with new and growing charities to make the charity sector sustainable and efficient. This is done by offering affordable office space and office services and resources to support these charities.
The initiative at Meten-Meer-Zorg was undertaken to rebuild its Masjid after it was found that the previous structure could not accommodate the growing Muslim population in that community and its environs.
The facility will serve communities along the West Coast of Demerara and East Bank of Essequibo. It can accommodate approximately 500 worshippers. Additionally, it has facilities that can be used to host social and cultural events and offer training and other integral social services to the persons in those communities.
CIOG President Fazeel Ferouz said the building represents an integral step forward in community involvement. He said that “Masjid is a place for the community” as he extended gratitude to the Zakat House of Kuwait for its part in the construction of the Masjid.
CIOG Director of Education and advisor Sheikh Moen ul-Hack said that the project was more so possible through the support of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, which would have introduced the two Islamic bodies.
Unveiling of the dedication plaque at the Meten-Meer-Zorg Masjid. In photo are Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Housing Minister Irfaan Ali, CIOG President Fazeel Ferouz and CIOG Director of Education and advisor Sheikh Moen ul-Hack
He explained that the working relationship of CIOG and Zakat House commenced some years ago when the Kuwaiti organisation agreed to sponsor a programme for orphaned Muslim children in Guyana. Since then, he further elaborated, the organisation has been providing $700,000 on a monthly basis towards this programme. He underscored that it was important that the real message of Islam get out there and not what is being peddled by extremist groups such as a Boko Haram in Nigeria and Islamic State (IS) in Syria. He noted that seemingly theses forces infiltrated close to home, since there were reports of 50 Trinidad and Tobago nationals being involved with IS, noting that everything must be done to safeguard the minds of Guyana’s populace.
“We have a responsibility to educate the community of the true teaching of Islam; this is the only way we will be able to remove misunderstandings and misconceptions about Islam,” ul-Hack said.
Meanwhile, Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett noted that this country has an exceedingly high level of religious harmony. She contended, however, that at times this religious harmony is taken for granted.
Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett interacts with CIOG President Fazeel Ferouz
On a global scale, she said, there was need for more harmony to be fostered in the religious areas. Housing Minister Irfaan Ali said that the CIOG plays an integral role in society and should be given due recognition. He pointed out that most times the executives work in the shadows and they should be commended for the tremendous work that they have done for the Guyanese public.
A section of the gathering at the commissioning of the Masjid
