MIKHAIL Rodrigues, popularly known as the ‘Guyanese Critic’, has walked away with only being “sternly cautioned” and having to apologise following a meeting on Tuesday with the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) over “insensitive, unethical and anti-Guyanese” statements he made in a social media post last Monday.

In a statement issued by the ERC, the commission said that, “restitution is not always of paramount concern”, and as such Rodrigues was sternly cautioned that any recurrence of his irresponsible remarks will warrant prosecution against him by the commission for his conduct.

“Mr. Rodrigues has accepted his wrongdoings and it is in light of this that he offered a public apology. He has also made an undertaking to the commission to do all that is necessary under his platform to promote amity,” the statement said.

However, some are not pleased, and believe the ERC has dealt too lightly with the matter, given the severity of Rodrigues behavior in the video.

“It’s a low down dirty shame and a slap in the face of women and members of the black community,” expressed social media personality, Melissa Atwell, who were among a number of persons who had protested outside of Rodrigues’ South Ruimveldt home last Tuesday.
Among those joining Atwell were former government minister, Simona Broomes, local gospel singer, Kester D; social media personality, Mondale Smith, and former Miss Guyana Universe, Melissa Payne.

With approximately 145,000 followers, on his “Guyanese Critic” Facebook page, Rodrigues, who is of African and Portuguese ethnicity, used this platform last Monday to post a video where he descended into stating that the people of African descent were afraid of reading and of gaining knowledge as he referenced fictional, racist, animated character “Uncle Ruckus”, from the adult cartoon “Boondocks”.

As of last Wednesday, notwithstanding massive backlash over the statements, the video remained on the Guyanese Critic page.
Under the Representation of the People Act, Chapter 1:03 and the Racial Hostility Act, Chapter 23:01, it is a criminal offence for anyone to incite racial hatred or violence against any person or segment of a society. Convictions can see offenders being fined $100,000 together with two years imprisonment for offences under the Act, and fines of up to $500,000 together with a jail sentence of up to seven years for offences under the Racial Hostility Act.

“It is imperative that Guyanese understand the seriousness of exciting any form of hate. The Ethnic Relations Commission encourages the understanding and acceptance of diversity in all aspects of national life as we aim to eliminate the issue of racial and religious profanity. Irrespective of the differences in our beliefs, ethos and culture, we are and continue to be “One People, One Nation and One Destiny”,” the ERC statement further said.