THE second in a series of four women’s workshops, organised by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), was conducted yesterday.

The 80 women in attendance were encouraged to separate politics from personalities in an effort to preserve racial harmony.

The aim of the programme is to provide a forum where the participants can freely express their thoughts, opinions and views on issues affecting them, with respect to harmony and good relations in Guyana.

Bishop Juan Edghill with participants of the ERC’s women’s workshop.

The first workshop took place at Le Chalet Country Club, Soesdyke Junction, East Bank Demerara and the one yesterday was at Grand Coastal Inn, Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara.

Two more are scheduled for today at Aracari Resort, Versailles, West Bank Demerara and Duke Lodge, Kingston, Georgetown, tomorrow.

The ERC is attempting to compile a report that includes views of Guyanese women on harmony and good relations for presentation to Parliament.

The constitutional body posits that an informed and educated society is more predisposed to tolerate, respect and accommodate the diverse cultures, religions and ethnicities in Guyana.

ERC Chairman, Bishop Juan Edghill asserted that women are integral to this process as they have vital roles in the home, society and, by extension, the country.

Men
If we are going to do anything to change Guyana, we are going to have to talk not only to the men but to the women, too,” he pointed out.

Edghill said women contribute to the promotion of harmony, expressly racial harmony, which is particularly important in Guyana.

He said the ERC has acknowledged this by providing a safe space for all opinions expressed.

In his address yesterday, he explained the meaning of racial harmony and what the average person can contribute to it.

He recommended that the women should:

* acquire knowledge and express tolerance of cultures, religions and values;

* understand the devastating consequences of racism and ethnocentrism and be prepared to explain those consequences to people;

* learn more about the contributions people from different racial groups made to the development of Guyana;

* speak out against racially motivated hate crimes;

* share stories of discrimination and racism so others can understand the real cost of hate and

* forgive those of other races or ethnic groups who have hurt people of one’s ethnic group.

Edghill also informed participants that any complaints they make will be investigated by his agency if they fall victim to discrimination.

Fined
He said the results of an ERC investigation that deems a political party culpable can cause it to be fined $500,000 payable promptly.

However, Edghill said, in an effort to campaign for a change, the fora were being hosted to give a voice to Guyanese women who would be advocates in their own right.

He defined politics as the activity through which personalities make, preserve and amend the general rules under which they live.

For that purpose, personality is the totality of nature and nurture and not necessarily the ability to create change.

ERC Commissioner, Mr. Carvil Duncan, echoed the same sentiments and said the workshop is a way to move forward, as it relates to harmony and good relations among Guyanese people,

“We cannot exist on conflict,” he reminded.

Duncan said the hosting would facilitate an examination of conflict in its entirety in the interest of reducing it in Guyana and, ultimately, promoting racial harmony.