Guyana Government Silent on Visit by Head of Islamic Organisation

Georgetown, Guyana, 27 Dzulhijjah 1437/29 September 2016 (MINA) – A one-day official visit to Guyana on Tuesday by the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani, was neither publicised by the government nor covered in any way by the state-owned media – the government news agency (GINA) and the Guyana Chronicle.

However, while in Georgetown, Madani met the vice president and minister of foreign affairs of Guyana, Carl Greenidge, Caribbean News Now reported.

Discussions focused on further strengthening the existing relations between the OIC, its institutions, and Guyana.

Madani and Greenidge underlined the importance of issues like Palestine, OIC Strategic Plan of Action 2025, micro-finance, cooperation in the field of women, youth and sports and other issues of mutual concern on the agenda of the upcoming 43rd Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM).

Greenidge was again invited to attend the OIC foreign ministers meeting, which will take place in Uzbekistan from October 18-19.

Greenidge also briefed the secretary general on the regional challenges facing Guyana, with particular reference to Guyana-Venezuela land and maritime border dispute.

The OIC’s readiness for any possible assistance in this regard was conveyed to the minister by Madani, according to an OIC press release on Wednesday.

The secretary general also visited the offices of the Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG) and met with its high officials. He took a tour of the school run by the CIOG and visited the Central Mosque of Georgetown. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agebcy (MINA)