Mayor Wagner Speaks on Visit to Ahmadiyya Convention

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the United Kingdom held their annual convention called ‘Jalsa Salana’ earlier this week. The event which pulls thousands of Muslims from all cross the world is used to spread religious knowledge and promote peace and brotherhood.  A mission from the Jewel, led by the Ahmadiyya Muslim group in Belize City, travelled to London; special guest was Mayor Bernard Wagner. The mayor was invited to deliver a speech on peace and while he was there, Bernard had productive conversations with the Muslim leaders.  He hopes to build on those new relationships to create a safe space in the city for the youth, as well as provide housing for the poor.

Bernard Wagner

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

“For me, it was the first time I attended such an event.  But it was a great experience, inspiring actually for myself, it was inspiring to see. People from all across the world, youths in particular, participated in an event which highlights service to humanity, volunteerism, being your brother’s keeper and service over all to your community. And so I left there really inspired that there is a better way for Belize, especially for our inner city youths and the urban city youths. Integrating the discipline of the Ahmadiyya Muslims and the work that they do, the service to humanity should go a long way in having our Belize City youths see that there is a better way. I hope and I continue to talk to the Imam here that we want to see the Muslim community be in their own part of the world but integrating into the Belize society because they do contribute significantly to Belize City, currently.”

Andrea Polanco

“Any new ideas of ways you would like to partner with them in the future?”

Bernard Wagner

“I met with his Holiness, the leader of the Ahmadiyya group, and we are looking at an academy. So, we are looking to go further than the tournaments. So, they are looking into building a facility that will be an academy for the youths – after school programs, teaching them about discipline and a lot of other areas they could access through this academy. One of the greater things I had discussed with his Holiness was that we looked at how we could collaborate in housing for the poor. So, we met and have agreed essentially on the way forward on housing for the poor in Belize City. It is just in the preliminary stages so I can’t elaborate on it to that extent. But that was one of the good news coming out of that meeting out in London.”