– where Kissoon is alleged to have exhibited racist behaviour when he associated McCoy with a monkey
THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has confirmed that it is in receipt of an official complaint by Mr. Kwame Mc Coy, Press and Publicity Officer to the President against Mr. Freddie Kissoon, a Kaieteur News Columnist.

The ERC, in a statement yesterday, said an “investigation is ongoing”.

According to Mr. Mc Coy, Kissoon’s article captioned ‘Ten Years of Jagdeo – Faustian Journey’ – in the Kaieteur News on August 13 – exhibited racist behaviour when he associated him with a monkey.

Without prejudice to the abovementioned complaint and the ongoing investigation, the ERC said it wishes to remind all Guyanese particularly media operatives to refrain from practicing racist behavior in their reporting and writing since it is against the law.

The Commission said it would also like to reiterate that persons who have been discriminated against on the basis of ethnicity or religion should report this to the ERC where an investigation will be conducted.

The ERC continues to “urge all Guyanese to live in love and unity as we strive to promote harmony and good relations in Guyana”.

In his letter to the ERC, and during a subsequent comment to this newspaper, McCoy contended that Kissoon’s article contained language that was unambiguously offensive and repugnant.

According to him, the racist connections between black people and primates are of the past, but hold deep and immediate social implications even today because it reinforces the common, demeaning and dehumanizing imagery.

As a young professional, McCoy said he is utterly concerned about Kissoon’s article which has racist connotations and could negatively affect efforts to sustain national unity.