Peace came over the Promenade Gardens yesterday as a small crowd gathered near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi to see the unveiling of a peace pole.

It was planted by The Friends of Peace Pilgrim, an international non-profit all- volunteer organisation, which has 25 different chapters across the globe. It has been operating in Guyana for the past five to six months.

May peace rain down: Members of the Friends For Peace Organisation with their new Guyana Chapter peace pole in the Promenade Gardens yesterday. (Ken Moore photo)

The pole was unveiled by members of the organisation amidst prayers and silence. It has the message ‘May Peace Prevail In Our Hearts’ inscribed on it. Secretary for the Guyanese Chapter, Dr Eton Simon then spoke about the organisation’s desire that this would be a symbol of what they preach in Guyana.

“The pole carries a message of peace, hope and healing. It calls on all barriers of race and religion. It calls on all Guyanese to see how important peace is and to work for the common good of all.”

And in reference to Gandhi, Singh explained, “As we come to learn something about our great peacemakers, we realise the need for peace and that we have to walk the path for peace.”

The organisation is based in California and has numerous projects running there most notably a Peace University which started sixteen months ago.

Dr Singh hopes the pole would become the main symbol of peace in Guyana, but would not say how significant he thought it would be in broadcasting the organisation’s message: “We cannot measure results. We only plant the seeds and divine process takes it forward.”