– a Strategic Assessment of the Commission’s work from conceptualisation to present will also be conducted
THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is scheduled to commence its annual Constituency Meetings today. These meetings are expected to be concluded on Friday, May 21, 2010. During this five-day period, the Commission will engage representatives of its various Constituencies namely; Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Women, Youth, Labour and Private Sector. A meeting will also be held with members of Civil Society.

The aim of these meetings is to provide feedback from the Commission’s Stakeholders on its work over the years in promoting harmony and good relations as well as encouraging a more tolerant and cohesive society. This is to facilitate an evaluation process which the Commission will be conducting on its work from conceptualization to present.

The Strategic Assessment Process seeks to review the ERC’s performance and the impact the Commission would have had on society and the country as a whole. It is to this end, that the ERC contracted the services of a Consultant to lead the assessment process.

The objectives of the assessment include:-

a) conducting a strategic review of the ERC by reviewing documentation and meeting with stakeholders,
b) facilitating a retreat of the ERC to discuss findings,
c) validating findings with stakeholders and
d) producing a final report of the process.

Following these in-house meetings the ERC will also conduct Regional Meetings with its Stakeholders to garner their feedback on the work of the Commission over the years.

Since its formation in 2003, the ERC has worked across Guyana and continues to work to promote inter-ethnic relations by addressing issues such as equality of opportunity, discrimination, conflict resolution and respect for each other.