Eid greetings.

Dear Editor

Allow me to share Eid sentiments as we close this year’s Ramadan.

I must say with elections coming up you are more keen to learn what Muslims may have learn from this month of self discipline.

I would like to reiterate that the same mannerisms displayed during this month should allow us enough fuel to serve and participate in the upcoming elections with honesty, lack of violence and true patriotism.

Muslims have learnt that during the fasting hours they must not swear nor lie, they must not back bite nor cheat and their fast will be much more sacred if they give alms and attend the mosque. Let this spirit of brotherhood be realized in this country as we take on another impactful but necessary event in our blessed democratic nation. As you can see what we are enjoying right now thanks to the blood, sweat and tears of our ancestors others are giving up lives and wealth for in other parts.

The tragic famine in the Horn of Africa should also remind us, that with zakat and feeding a fasting person so easily done in Ramadan, this selflessness must remain with us throughout, as we too had our fair share of deprivation in our past history. While people walk for hours for water, we now have running taps. While mothers cannot bury their dead, fathers cannot find their sons, we do have ours a text away. Let’s see each other as brothers and sisters. Love more than anger is the legacy of the successful, as the late Canadian Jack Layton said.

I would like to remind our people that hope and love abide in the veins of Guyanese. When I was home recently I witnessed it again as much as I always referenced the diversity of Guyana as the true model of harmonious living. One late night on my way from Berbice, I had a double tire puncture in ECD. With the fear and phobia one can only imagine how much prayer must have gone in our minds! The savior of our calamity was a man and his girlfriend of African descent. You can well imagine what the headlines of such a story could be!

Africans and Indians are humans. They are the fathers of our nation alike. They are our teachers and neighbors. They are our families and friends. They deserve a better tomorrow. Maybe Gandhi’s new born Anna Hazare can find resonance in Guyana- that the faith leaders and the social conscious people need to remind all, once again- we will not take it – no Satanic racist will exploit our pure thoughts for a few votes. Never again!



Happy Eid!
Safe School! Peaceful Voting!
Yours truly,
Habeeb Alli

Tribute to late Jack layton Canada

Habeeb Alli
25/08/2011
In memory of Jack Layton, Canada’s Opposition Leader.


“Really great people make you feel that you, too, can become great.”
Mark Twain

Jack you lay before us
A ton of memories riveting
From July 18, 1950 – August 22, 2011
The dash is dashing yet sad!

An indefatigable defense of the poor
An unstoppable voice for the voiceless
You made Muslims feel belonged
You stood up against apartheid far and wide

It’s the love story that my eye catches
Twenty six years and still blushing
Where do you find the passion?
I know now- love more than anger!

Somehow Summer 2011 will forever etched
As Ramadan’s breeze overwhelm
A snowbird departs hopeful of the green shower
That the cane dropped, smiling, so reminiscent of Solomon!