THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has rejected, as baseless, reckless, sensational and mischievous, a recent statement by Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union (GB&GWU). The watchdog agency said the union expressed its concerns over what it called the high-handed manner in which the ERC is attempting to address its January 4 request for a public inquiry into discrimination meted out to Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. (BCGI) employees and GB&GWU, based on race and political geography.
But the ERC said it wants the GB&GWU to fulfill the commitments to which it had agreed when the two parties held preliminary meetings on January 8, at Watooka House, Mackenzie, Linden.
The ERC said it still awaiting a letter from GB&GWU, stating that Mr. Carlton Sinclair is authorised to make a complaint on behalf of the latter, as was promised in the initial stages of the discussions between it and the union.
The ERC said it also awaits statements to substantiate allegations made against RUSAL for the former to determine the way forward.
The statement said it was agreed at the first meeting with GB&GWU that a team of ERC investigators would revisit Linden on January 13, to take statements from persons, who the union said were willing to make available information for the investigation, but no one showed up.
“It is misleading for the union to state that it awaits a response from the ERC’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Yvonne Langevine, for the modalities and scheduled timing to commence a public inquiry that is transparent and impartial when no such commitment was made,” the statement said.
It added that the ERC also views, with great concern, the singling out of its Chairman, Bishop Juan Edghill, for unwarranted attacks when he was part of a five-member team which held preliminary meetings with the union, RUSAL management, unionised workers and staff of RUSAL who are not members of the union.
The ERC noted that all the meetings were recorded and it is of the opinion that the union’s press statement is mischievous and can serve no possible good for the workers and the country as a whole.
The ERC said, meanwhile, it wishes to reassure members of the public that, once a complaint is properly put forward to it and a prima facie case has been made out in keeping with its rules and procedures, it will proceed, in an impartial and transparent manner, to investigate.
“We reject any attempt to undermine the functioning of the Commission as it executes its constitutional mandate. The ERC will not be cowered by any open threats and subtle insinuations or innuendos that are designed to manipulate its work by any section of the society,” the statement concluded.