THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) will host a national consultation on constitutional reform next Tuesday as part of efforts to gather public recommendations on issues affecting ethnic relations, equality, inclusion and protection from discrimination in Guyana.
The consultation, scheduled for October 13 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., will also introduce the ERC’s Draft Glossary of Ethnically Sensitive Terms.
The event forms part of the Commission’s mandate to promote harmony and good relations among Guyana’s diverse ethnic communities and will provide citizens and stakeholders with an opportunity to contribute to the national discussion on constitutional reform.
The principal focus will be constitutional matters relating to ethnic relations, equality, inclusion, protection from discrimination, ethnic security, and the role and effectiveness of institutions established to advance those objectives.
Participants will engage in structured discussions through 11 groups, comprising 10 constituency groups and one public participation group. The discussions are intended to generate recommendations on constitutional matters falling within the ERC’s remit and mandate.
The recommendations arising from the consultation will be consolidated by the ERC into a report for submission to the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) ahead of its December 31, 2026, deadline.
The consultation will also feature a brief introduction to the ERC’s Draft Glossary of Ethnically Sensitive Terms, which is intended as a public education resource to promote greater understanding of language and terminology relating to ethnicity and their potential impact on social relations.
Participants will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the draft glossary at a later stage as part of the broader consultation process.
The ERC is encouraging citizens to participate by sharing their experiences, perspectives and ideas on strengthening equality, inclusion and harmonious relations in Guyana.
Community organisations, civil society groups and other stakeholders are also being urged to attend and contribute to the discussions.
Persons interested in participating can register through the ERC Guyana social media pages, @ERCGuyana, where the registration link and additional information are available.
The Commission said broad public participation is important as Guyana continues its national conversation on constitutional reform and the strengthening of harmony and good relations among its communities.