Senior Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, has called on religious organisations, families and communities to play a greater role in instilling values such as patience, service and integrity in Guyana’s young people.
He stressed that character development must keep pace with the country’s rapid economic transformation.
Dr Singh made the call on Saturday while addressing devotees at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Ratha Yatra celebrations held at the Lusignan Tarmac.
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, was also in attendance, along with local and international spiritual leaders and devotees.
The senior minister said the nation must remain grounded in the values that have guided previous generations.
“We have an obligation to ensure that we instil in our young people the virtues that have served us so well… the qualities that have enabled us to build this beautifully modern world of ours,” he said.
While acknowledging the many opportunities created by advances in technology and the country’s expanding economy, Dr Singh cautioned against allowing material success to overshadow principles such as faith, patience, and service.
He noted that society has become increasingly driven by instant gratification, using modern communication as an example of how people’s expectations and behaviours have changed over time.
“We live today in an era where we are overcome by anxiousness and anxiety,” he said.
He also added that technology should enhance lives without replacing the virtues that strengthen families and communities.
Dr Singh said Guyana’s rapid development presents tremendous opportunities, but emphasised that lasting national progress depends not only on economic advancement, but also on preserving the country’s spiritual and moral foundation.
He urged faith-based organisations to continue expanding programmes that encourage service, compassion and ethical leadership among young people.
“The strong spiritual and religious orientation of our people is more needed today than at any other time in our country’s history,” he stated, reaffirming the government’s support for organisations that contribute to the nation’s social development.
The event marked three significant milestones for the Hare Krishna movement: the 60th anniversary of the founding of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the 50th anniversary of ISKCON’s presence in Guyana, and the 20th anniversary of the Ratha Yatra festival in Guyana.
During his address, Dr Singh praised the organisation for five decades of service through spiritual outreach, education and charitable work benefiting communities across the country.
Ratha Yatra, also known as the Festival of Chariots, is one of the world’s oldest religious festivals. Originating in Jagannath Puri, India, it celebrates the public procession of the deities Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra, symbolising the blessings of the divine being brought to people from all walks of life.
The festival has been celebrated internationally since 1967 and has become a longstanding annual observance in Guyana.