The Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) brought together almost two dozen denominational bodies at the Divali Nagar, Chaguanas, on August 31, as it answered the government’s call for this year’s Independence Day to be commemorated with a day of prayer and reflection. However, government representatives were absent from the interfaith service.

IRO president Dr Ellis Harrison Burris told reporters that an invitation was sent to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, but they did not receive a response. Burris, however, said Persad-Bissessar was not obligated to attend, and he holds no grudge.

“Everyone has their mind and their privilege to think and do as they wish. So you really cannot chastise or try to bring down anyone for not attending, because you don’t know of their personal activities and we always have to respect that because there are things that be going on in people’s life that we are not aware and if she chooses, probably not to participate, we have to respect that.”