The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) wishes to make clear its position and intervention into the Sangeeta Persaud incident. The Commission is appalled at the letters and other publications in the media about its involvement in the issue and the efforts by some persons to cause division along ethnic and religious lines, according to a statement from the Commission yesterday.
Following is the ERC statement:
“ As you would recall, the Commission held a press conference on Friday, April 09, 2010, chaired by ERC Chairman, Bishop Juan Edghill, and including the pastors involved in the incident, the young woman’s mother, foster father and another relative.
“The aim of the press conference was to bring clarity to the issue surrounding the young woman’s death as the parents and relatives of the child were not pleased with the stories being published in the media. They claim the stories published were all misleading.
The Commission hosting the press conference was by no means “to cover-up an ugly and dastardly episode that is clamouring for an investigation and transparency”, as claimed by one letter writer.
“The events as they unfolded on the day of the incident were related by Sangeeta’s mother and the pastor who were present at the press conference and not the ERC Chairman, as some sections of the media implied
“The Commission wishes to remind the general public, particularly those persons who had letters published in the media, that among its 24 functions as outlined by the Constitution of Guyana is to “encourage and create respect for religious, cultural and other forms of diversity in a plural society”.
“This particular incident was seen as one of a religious conflict as explained by the relatives of Sangeeta Persaud, thus the ERC was asked to get involved. It was a matter where the community was against the family embracing Christianity.
It is the Commission’s role in society to ensure that an individual or a group chooses and practices a religion or culture of their choice without any fear of discrimination.
“It should be noted that it was the Chairman of the Commission at the press conference, where a representative from almost every media house in the country was present, who called for a thorough investigation into the matter even though the post mortem results were inconclusive. This was not given emphasis in the media.
“The Chairman and Commissioners of the ERC would like to reassure all sections of society that the Commission will continue its work unhindered by any one or any group whose opinion does not positively contribute to the promotion of harmony and good relations in Guyana,” the statement concludes.