Grand reconciliation rally set for April 19 Stabroek News March 31, 2000 A grand reconciliation rally is being planned by a number of organisations in Guyana and its focus will be on the nation and the many problems it is facing. The rally is set for April 19 at Parliament Buildings and it will take the form of a prayer service. At a press conference hosted yesterday by members of the Guyana Council of Churches (GCC) along with other organisations at the Guyana Red Cross Society Headquarters in Kingston, it was disclosed that the rally had been in the making for a very long time. Bishop Juan Edghill, who is the chairman of the GCC, told reporters that over the last three weeks there was a lot of talk behind the scenes by the organisation about the problems facing the nation. He said that the GCC looked at a number of issues and recognised that if something was not done Guyana would be in trouble. It was learnt that those who will participate in the rally include Hindus, Bahai's, Muslims, Christians, NGOs, trades unions, political and non political groups. Bishop Edghill said that if an atmosphere of peace was not created then the situation would escalate. "The proposal is that we should come together and have national healing," the Bishop said. And according to him the rally which will commence at 6 pm is one way of taking a stride in that direction. It is expected that different groups will stage processions through the city and then they will all congregate at one point for a grand march to Parliament Buildings. Bishop Edghill said they were still canvassing for organisations to participate and he appealed to groups that were not contacted to call telephone numbers 66610 or 53020. Also present at the press conference were: attorney-at-law Cavelle Lynch for the Working People's Alliance (WPA); Uhlan Leander of the City Council; Leslie Reece of the Guyana Trades Union Congress; Jennifer Dewar of the Bahai's; Anthony Miller of the Independent Council of Churches; Yvette Bailey of the NGO Forum, Gordon Hamlet, Barrington Lychmore; and Fitz Alert all of the GCC.