From left: ERC Commissioners Norris Witter, Rev. Rodwell Porter, Deon Dick (Ras. Kafra), AFC Chair Cathy Hughes, Commissioner Chandrowtie Sarran, ERC Chairman Shaikh Moeenul Hack, AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, and Commissioner Pandit Sharma.
The Alliance For Change (AFC) leadership met with the members of the Ethnic Relations Commission at the Party’s Headquarters on Railway Line, Georgetown on 14th September, 2023.
Present on behalf of the AFC were Leader – Khemraj Ramjattan, Chairperson – Cathy Hughes and Executive member, Diana Rajkumar. The Ethnic Relations Commission team comprised of its Chairman, Shaikh Moeenul Hack, Commissioners Deon Dick (Ras. Kafra), Rev. Rodwell Porter, Norris Witter, Pandit Sharma, Chandrowtie Sarran and CEO/Secretary Gomin Camacho.
It was a cordial meeting where members on both sides agreed that much work needs to be done to discourage discrimination on ethnic grounds, and to foster tolerance among ethnic groups in Guyana. The effort needs to come from all Guyanese inclusive of political parties, which during elections season, have accentuated interests to exploit ethnic divisions for political outcomes.
The AFC made it clear that ethnic division in Guyana does not just happen, but is made; and, oftentimes it is hidden in plain sight. That it must be confronted with frankness and serious commitment is the best way for a more harmonious Guyana to be realized. The Party posited that it is in the economics of the Guyanese reality that ethnic division rears its ugly head and where it takes on very subtle and sometimes outrageously flagrant forms.
Urging the ERC to do more profound studies on how the resources of the State are being presently distributed, the Party stressed that this will go a far way in appreciating the real causes of ethnic division. Education at homes and schools on tolerance and respect are ways to ensure lessened ethnic division. This will also help the ERC to be seen as being independent and help it to gain legitimacy.
The ERC made it known that it is completing its work plan for 2023 to 2026, updating a survey concerning distribution of resources, and will be doing ads to foster harmony. It will also seek cooperation of State agencies to provide information to it, and make every attempt to get the Ethnic Relations Tribunal operationalised. All this will require financial resources which the AFC said it will support.
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