– John Smith new Chairman

THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) says that following the appointment of the newly-elected Commissioners, it has commenced work on delivering on its constitutional mandate.

The Commissioners, who were sworn in by President David Granger on February 22, 2018, met on April 24, 2018, at the Public Buildings at the invitation of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland, for the purpose of electing a Chairperson and Deputy.

Following the process, General Bishop, Dr. John Oswald Smith, C.C.H, was declared duly elected as Chairman, and Major-General (Ret’d) Norman McLean, MSc, the Deputy Chairman. The Speaker took the opportunity to congratulate and extend best wishes to the Commission in its endeavour to execute its important task as prescribed in the Constitution, a release from the ERC said.

The first official meeting of the Commission was held on April 26, 2018, during which time, updates were provided and statutory dates decided. The Commission is in the process of drafting its work programme for the rest of the year, and to fill critical vacancies on which the execution of its mandate depends.

According to the ERC, cognizant of the responsibility entrusted on it and the task ahead, it looks forward to meaningfully engaging all stakeholders in the near future in an effort to gauge opinions which would be valuable in helping to chart a way forward. Members of the public who are desirous of engaging the Commission can make contact at its 66, Peter Rose and Anira Streets, Queenstown, Georgetown office and/or through telephone numbers 231-6281, 231-6265.

In addition to Smith and McLean, the other members of the ERC are: Sister Rajkumarie Singh, Roshan Khan, Norris Witter, Deodat Persaud, Ruth Howard, Barrington Braithwaite, Neaz Subhan and Ashton Simon.

The constitutional organ had become defunct in 2011. However, the National Assembly in January approved the names of the 10 persons to sit on the ERC, after more than four years of consultations and reviews. In delivering brief remarks during the swearing in, President Granger said the Constitution provides for the establishment of the ERC and is guarded against influence and interference by the Executive. He stated that the work of the ERC is critical to ensuring ethnic harmony and social cohesion in Guyana. “The Ethnic Relations Commission is intended to support, inter alia, to promote good relations, harmony, peace, tolerance and understanding between our peoples,” he posited while adding that the Commission is also expected to ensure that equal opportunities between persons of different ethnic groups are provided and ethnic discrimination is proscribed. The ERC is constitutionally required to provide 24 functions. “These functions entail a broad range of actions and interventions including education, investigation, monitoring, reviewing, recommending and research and study,” the President explained.