– meets with Social Cohesion Minister 

MINISTER of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally, on Friday met with the Director of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), Joel Simpson, and Social Change Coordinator Jairo Rodrigues, to discuss possible areas of collaboration between SASOD and the Department of Social Cohesion.Among the items on the agenda which were of particular concern to SASOD were education, especially as it relates to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community; the youth population and the high number of school dropouts; employment and discrimination in the workplace; and the programmes which have been undertaken by the organisation to tackle the suicide epidemic in Guyana.

A release from the Ministry of the Presidency noted that the SASOD representative highlighted discriminatory treatment meted out to young persons in the education sector who had displayed a ‘different’ sexual orientation. SASOD also noted its dissatisfaction with the way in which the LGBT community in Guyana is treated by members of the society, and the high level of homophobic attitude which persists in the country.

According to the release, Simpson and Rodrigues also used the opportunity to outline various initiatives and programmes which can be undertaken in communities to prevent suicide, even as they noted that counselling was a priority for the organisation.

Minister Ally assured the team that the Government does not practise discrimination, and accordingly would not condone it. She assured that the Ministry of Social Cohesion would take the lead and give guidance to its sister ministries to ensure that no form of discriminatory practice is permitted or allowed within Government institutions, the release stated.

The release further noted that Rodrigues said SASOD was pleased to have engaged the Social Cohesion Ministry about its burning issues and concerns, which were brought to the forefront and were noted by the Minister. He also said that SASOD would be looking to work closely with that Ministry in the near future to ensure that the rights of all citizens are upheld.

SASOD is a member of the Ministry of Social Cohesion’s peer group, which comprises representatives of the current Government, Opposition, civil society, academia, the private sector, religious groups, and women and youth. It has a mandate to design and guide the citizens’ consultation process for the formulation of the Ministry of Social Cohesion’s five-year strategic plan. The group is also a stakeholder in fostering social cohesion in Guyana.