GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — The Guyana government has held talks with various religious organisations here as it seeks to become the first Caribbean country to establish an inter-religious television station.

A government statement issued after the consultation on Tuesday noted that the government and religious officials discussed the impact such a station would have on society.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who holds ministerial responsibility for media development, said that the consultation was a continuation of what began many years ago.

“We must put an end to the domination of one type of influence… and open the window so that we could access a variety of influences that would help to make us better human beings, better citizens and Guyanese,” he said.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo said that “religion has played a cardinal role in the development of our civilisation… they have been the cornerstone for the development of society so therefore they cannot be ignored.”

He said that there is a dire need for radio and television stations that are culturally homogenous and which would speak to the Guyanese population.

Programme coordinator of the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Sharon Patterson, said that the establishment of the religious television station would strengthen social cohesion in Guyana.

“An inter-religious television station has the potential to demonstrate in its truest form how cohesion can work in a multiracial, multi-ethnic, multicultural country like ours,” Patterson said.

Patterson noted that a television station for religious broadcast would afford Guyanese the opportunity to view programmes of their own religion and that of others.