– asks commission’s help in proving Afro-Guyanese lived better under PPP

THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is calling on the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) to do a fact-based study on the period 1964 to the present, so as to vindicate their argument that Afro-Guyanese fared better during their successive regimes.
The call comes in the wake of a courtesy call Wednesday from members of the newly-appointed Commission on Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo.
With him to receive his guests were Opposition Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira and PPP Parliamentarian, Bishop Juan Edghill.

Calling for a full disclosure of the findings of the suggested study, the PPP said in a media release yesterday:

“Much of the discussion saw time given to the concerns about the state and welfare of Afro-Guyanese, and the ERC was requested to do a fact-based study on the periods 1964-1992 (under the People’s National Congress administration), 1992-2015 (under the PPP/C administration), and 2015 to present (under the APNU+AFC Coalition government), and facilitate a public discussion on the findings.

“The Leader of the Opposition stated that if this study was done, it would find that Afro-Guyanese did better under successive PPP/C governments.”
This is not the first time that the Opposition Leader has claimed that Afro-Guyanese enjoyed a better quality of life during the 23-year reign of the PPP, as back in 2016; he defined the period to the media as “tremendous progress under the PPP” and “even handed”.

Though the jury is till out as to whether the ERC will take up the challenge, Jagdeo has assured Commissioners of the PPP’s full cooperation in the dispensation of their duties.

During the meeting, the PPP said in its release, the two sides also discussed such important issues as race relations, matters impacting ethnic insecurities in Guyana, fairness and transparency.

“The PPP/C does not support the introduction of a quota system,” the Party said.
“The PPP/C stands by the principle of meritocracy as key to employment in the State (public) and private sectors, as well as to opportunities for scholarships.”
Among other concerns that were raised during the meeting were equal treatment for the some 7,000 retrenched sugar workers and 2,000 Amerindian Community Service Officers (CSOs) whose services were terminated, which, according to the Opposition Leader, has cost the communities at reference over $700M.

Jagdeo is also calling for fair and equal treatment to citizens; equal access to goods and services and “fair and transparent hiring practices based on merit” for the hiring of staffers in reference to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Although Justice (ret’d) Patterson had stated on June 5, 2018 that only 46 per cent of GECOM’s workforce comprised of Afro-Guyanese, the PPP is still contending that the management of the Commission is dominated by Afro-Guyanese.
Meanwhile, the Commission is also being encouraged by the Opposition Leader to examine the studies done by the previous ERC on the public service, contracts and procurement, and the allocation of house lots.

The PPP is requesting that the foregoing matters be addressed in an “expeditious manner”, utilising a fact-based approach.

In February 2018, President David Granger swore in the 10-member Commission after a seven-year hiatus, and since its resuscitation, the ERC has been flooded with requests, such as the allegations of discrimination at Mae’s Schools which has since been resolved.
The ERC is intended, inter alia, to promote good relations, peace, harmony, understanding and tolerance among Guyanese; provide equal opportunity between persons of different ethnic groups and proscribe ethnic discrimination.