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Muslims In Guyana Ask The Obvious Questions

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Guyana ImageThe Women’s Issues In Guyana Website is reporting that the Muslims in Guyana met with the Ethnic Relations Committee (ERC) to make an unusual request if we were to consider the time and place – “they are proposing polygamy be introduced in the Muslim community in Guyana?” We know that this is a practice engaged in by people from Asia and other foreign cultures, but in the Caribbean we ask? We have in earlier blogs alluded to the practice of Indo-Guyanese comfortable with the practice of marrying to girls under the age of consent.

We agree with the person who posted the note to the editor on this subject. In this part of the world we consider behaviours as mentioned above unethical and illegal. Why are we highlighting this developing news story you are asking? Your guess is as good as ours.

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23 responses to “Muslims In Guyana Ask The Obvious Questions”

  1. Avatar
    Anonymous

    I am looking for the letter referred to in the Guyana Chronical. Anybody find it?

  2. Straight talk Avatar
    Straight talk

    Stabroek News – April 2, 2008

    Muslim leaders told the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) that they are concerned about religious intolerance displayed by some employers who are reluctant to grant Muslim employees time-off to pray on Fridays and they also called for polygamy to be institutionalized.

    According to an ERC press release, Chairman Bishop Juan Edghill said the group had received similar complaints before but had managed to settle the specific issues amicably. However, he said there was greater need for religious sensitivity towards Muslims and other religious practices.

    Meanwhile, Private Sector representative at the ERC L John P Willems said the crossing of cultures is necessary to dispel suspicion and foster harmony in a multicultural society like Guyana. Willems told the Muslim constituency at the ERC’s annual constituency consultation, held at its Secretariat on Thursday, that emphasis must be placed on exploring “the richness of our multicultural diversity” rather than a preoccupation with one’s own culture. He said despite the ‘mixing’ in business transactions and other areas Guyanese “seldom get an opportunity to really understand the intricate details of each other’s culture.” He urged Muslim leaders to use the medium of television to explore this option.

    Muslim leaders also said the issue of polygamy needed to be institutionalised. Edghill advised them to petition the National Assembly to debate the issue. Further, concerns were raised about stringent measures taken by law enforcement and social services officials against Nikka marriages performed for female Muslims under the age of consent.

    The representative noted that Muslim culture allows a girl’s parent “to give consent for her marriage in preservation of dignity and religious sanctity.” However, it was noted that if a marriage performed under such circumstances is brought to the attention of the social services ministry parents may be charged. The representatives posited that this law should be reviewed.

    Additionally, Muslim representatives requested that the ERC lobby the Guyana Prison Service to make provision for their followers to wear three-quarter pants as opposed to the knee-length uniform for inmates whose prison terms have been confirmed.

  3. Straight talk Avatar
    Straight talk

    David:

    “In this part of the world we consider behaviours as mentioned above unethical and illegal. Why are we highlighting this developing news story you are asking? Your guess is as good as ours.”

    We certainly do not accept these foreign practices.

    A man willingly supporting multiple spouses and his offspring.

    Shocking. That’s not the Bajan way at all.

    We prefer having multiple partners and bastard children and abandon them to their own devices.

    That’s ethical?

  4. Radiance Avatar
    Radiance

    Yes, Straight Talk,

    De facto polygamy is practiced widely in the West Indies. One major difference between legal polygamy and the de facto version is that men who engage in de facto polygamy do not have to burden themselves with the family responsibilities that seem to be expected with legalized polygamy.

    Having said that, however, I support neither legalized polygamy nor de facto polygamy because I see them both as social activities/institutions that benefit men more than they benefit women. If I were to see polyandry being practiced as widely as polygamy, then I might (only might) feel differently. But we have religions and cultures that have promoted/accepted legal polygamy, but not polyandry, and societies that accept de facto polygamy but not de facto polyandry. That’s gender bias right there.

  5. Kow Avatar
    Kow

    “In this part of the world we consider behaviours as mentioned above unethical and illegal.”

    Pure nonsense. This is Barbados where men have all manner of outside women and children out of wedlock (once called “bastards” but now simply called children) and many women have children for more than one man. The Bajan practice is no different from that which you seek to condemn, except that it is done outside of marriage.

    I now realise that visiting these blogs is a waste of time.

    Goodbye!

  6. Adrian Avatar
    Adrian

    Kow // April 7, 2008 at 9:25 am

    “In this part of the world we consider behaviours as mentioned above unethical and illegal.”

    Pure nonsense. This is Barbados where men have all manner of outside women and children out of wedlock (once called “bastards” but now simply called children) and many women have children for more than one man. The Bajan practice is no different from that which you seek to condemn, except that it is done outside of marriage.

    I now realise that visiting these blogs is a waste of time.

    Goodbye!
    =================================

    David why is it, that persons not known to you, or to the regular posters here, think that they will be missed when they threathen to leave in a huff? Maybe it is the same lack of reasoning displayed in the post above that is used to conclude as such? It is difficult to accept Kow’s dismissal which seems to suggest that as long as similar unethical behaviour is practice in Barbados that it disqualifies us from voicing an opinion.
    ……I am not surprise by this request, it is as backward as the religion of those who are calling for it, but Guyana has a problem amongst it entire population with the willingness of men to partner with 13-15 fifteen year old girls.

  7. Sister Baby Avatar
    Sister Baby

    Barbados should be alarmed because before you know it, they will petition the Barbados Government to sanction Indo Guyanese men taking many wives in Barbadosland. They already have a mosque in Bridgetown and that Indo Guyanese Moslem lady is feeding the poor in Bridgetown, and the next thing they will want is state recognition of men taking mulitple wives in Barbados. Say no to this one.

  8. Legal Polygamy Coming To Guyana? Already Legal In Canada and Britain… Is Barbados Next? « Barbados Free Press

    […] and the gang over at Barbados Underground have an excellent discussion going on now about Muslims in Guyana demanding to follow the polygamous beliefs of their religion. A few days ago David also had an article about Barbadian Mormons and […]

  9. Jerome Hinds Avatar
    Jerome Hinds

    DAVID,

    You can check with Owen Arthur…..about instituting such a policy in BARBADOS !

    He is a past master at this thing !

  10. Tell me Why Avatar
    Tell me Why

    Jerome. Policing is working in Bim. Two cases were dismissed in St. Vincent against the PM, but here in BIM, the law is wukking. Have you heard the news today about your colleague?

  11. Adrian Avatar
    Adrian

    Tell me Why // April 7, 2008 at 1:13 pm

    Jerome. Policing is working in Bim. Two cases were dismissed in St. Vincent against the PM, but here in BIM, the law is wukking. Have you heard the news today about your colleague?
    ===============================

    who what where?????

  12. PiedPiper Avatar
    PiedPiper

    Contrary to the heading posted by Sister Baby via BFP, polygamy is NOT legal in Canada.
    What we have in Canada is an American Mormon Fundamentalist sect that fled to Bountiful, British Columbia in order to avoid prosecution in the U.S. The British Columbia Courts are currently in the process of debating what can be done to prosecute the members of this sect. We also have a percentage of Muslim immigrants who came to this country who already have more than one wife and their status in this country is that they are not to replace wives who pass away nor are they to marry further wives while residing in this country.
    Polygamy is illegal in Canada pursuant to s. 293 of the Criminal Code. The practice of polygamy is also contrary to many of Canada’s international commitments and to the notion of gender equality that is fundamental to Canadian society.
    There has been much discussion about the integrity and accuracey of mainstream media as apposed to blogs. I would suggest that proper research be done before making inaccurate statements.

  13. Tell me Why Avatar
    Tell me Why

    who what where?????
    ………………………………………………………………….
    Candidate for Christ Church West.

  14. Adrian Avatar
    Adrian

    There has been much discussion about the integrity and accuracy of mainstream media as apposed to blogs. I would suggest that proper research be done before making inaccurate statements.

    =================================

    ….and how easy was it for you to correct Sister Baby’s inaccurate statement? could you have been so lighten quick with your rebuttal were these inaccuracies made via main stream media? Or are you suggesting that mainstream media does not carry inaccuracies? Then again you would have to be an Idiot to believe anything Sister Baby says without recall to reason. Are you an Idiot? I think not. schuuuppssee.

  15. Adrian Avatar
    Adrian

    Tell me Why // April 7, 2008 at 1:40 pm

    who what where?????
    ………………………………………………………………….
    Candidate for Christ Church West.
    =================================

    A story without evidentiary proof to prosecute. You got proof?

  16. Tell me Why Avatar
    Tell me Why

    A story without evidentiary proof to prosecute. You got proof?
    …………………………………………………………………….Will would have to wait and see what transpired after his Court appearance today.

  17. David Avatar
    David

    Yes Adrian you are correct. It seems whenever an ill of our society is confronted we are quick to hear the other side which is usually not to be condoned either. So where do we start? Should we do nothing or start somewhere, anywhere!

  18. The Truth Avatar
    The Truth

    Girl from Guyana must be sweet. What Bajan man would wants another wife…….not me.

  19. PiedPiper Avatar
    PiedPiper

    Adrian: I have made it very clear in a number of posts, both here and at BFP, that I have no faith whatsoever in the mainstream media to report facts either accurately , intelligently or minus an agenda.

  20. fyah Avatar
    fyah

    i don’t think it should be legal to have more than one wife in caribbean islands where the muslim popullation might not even be 2%.

  21. Sandie Rowe Avatar
    Sandie Rowe

    Why should we raise our eyebrows over this question. For years now some Muslins in this country have had two wives, one usually of Asian descent ,and the other local. Both marriages were conducted religously, but only the one to the Asian partner, was legally registered. In the eyes of the Muslins community , this is Wives times 2, in the eyes of Barbados Law, this is wife,one and Kip Miss, one.

  22. propaganda press Avatar
    propaganda press

    a’rite a’rite a’rite now
    before y’all and the Muslims of Guyana get a lil too carried away. the laws of Guyana do not allow for multiple wives under any circumstances!
    get that? the laws of Guyana do not allow for multiple wives under any circumstances and with the new stamp it out campaign by the Ministry of Human Services among other measures being taken by the people of Guyana [women mostly of course!]
    if you’re into young girls Guyana is the wrong place for you as we’ll get you and you don’t wanna know what’s going to happen to you. just go down to the park and talk to the mini bus drivers and conductors

  23. J Avatar
    J

    What is marriage?

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