Muslims pray for rain in drought-hit Guyana

[Judi Lynn]

Muslims pray for rain in drought-hit Guyana

(Reuters) - Muslims across Guyana prayed for rain on Saturday to end a drought that has battered the tiny South American nation's rice and sugar exports and caused food shortages in indigenous communities.

The government of the former British colony of about 750,000 people is struggling to irrigate farmland, with water at storage points reaching dangerously low levels.

The Central Islamic Organization of Guyana (CIOG), which represents Muslims in 145 mosques across the multiethnic nation, organized a day of prayers for rain.

"This activity is consistent with the Sunnah of the Prophet Mohammad beseeching the Creator to cause the rain to descend and alleviate sufferings," said one CIOG leader, Shaykh Moeenul.

Muslims make up about 7 percent of Guyana's population, with Hindus at 28 percent and Christians making up most of the rest across various denominations.

Guyana is one of several countries in the region, including neighboring Venezuela, that have been parched by drought since the end of last year.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62Q1KR20100327?rpc=401&feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&rpc=401

[malaise]

1. Most of the Caribbean is suffering from severe drought

This is the worst drought I can remember in Jamaica.
We have unbelievable water restrictions and are receiving water for two hours in the morning and two hours at night. Our damns are at 40% right now.

[protocol rv]

2. So are you getting muddy water too?

here in Caracas one of the reservoirs already dried up, and when we get water it's full of sediment - which tells me they're pumping the muddy water at the bottom? I don't know for sure, but we sure are getting a lot of sand and silt in the water.

They say the drought will end by May now. In the Caribbean, you should see it end sooner, because there should be a set of storms starting just about now. Just hope you don't get a hurricane.

[malaise]

3. No muddy water here

We have a decent tank.