THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) issued 45 cautionary warnings over ethnic hate speech online between September 26 and October 23, up from 33 in the previous reporting period, according to its monthly press release for October.
According to the ERC, based on information from the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU), the warnings covered a range of concerns. There were 12 instances of stand-alone racial slurs, 10 involving religious intolerance and 10 involving racially prejudiced or insensitive remarks.
Five were related to xenophobic content, three each concerned racially divisive and derogatory remarks and two involved racially hateful comments.
Four matters that originated on Facebook were referred to the commission’s Investigative Unit, bringing the total referred by the MMU to that unit in 2026 to 15. The commission urged users to express disagreements respectfully and to avoid language or conduct that promotes prejudice, discrimination or division.
As at October 29, the Investigative Unit’s active caseload stood at 94 matters spanning 2022 to 2026. Of these, 57 were closed and eight were completed, while 10 remained under active investigation. The rest were at various stages of review, legal consideration, conciliation or statutory decision.
By category, 58 matters concerned racial discrimination, 15 religious discrimination, nine ethnic discrimination and one combined ethnic and racial discrimination, while 11 were assessed as falling outside the commission’s statutory mandate. Five new matters were received during October.
A major highlight of the month was a national consultation held on October 13 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where representatives of the ERC’s constituencies and members of the public examined recommendations of the Constitution Reform Commission (CRC) relevant to the ERC’s mandate.
Participants also reviewed the ERC’s draft Glossary of Ethnically Sensitive Terms, which is meant to raise awareness of how language affects ethnicity, race, religion and community relations.
The commission stressed that the glossary remains a working draft, still under review and vetting, and that further feedback is being considered before any final version is prepared. Recommendations from the consultation will inform the ERC’s report to the CRC, which is expected to be submitted before December 31, 2026.
The commission also expanded its Harmony Clubs initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, launching five new clubs during October.
These were established at Wales and Vreed-en-Hoop Primary Schools in Region Three, Yarrowkabra Primary School in Region Four and Christianburg and Mackenzie Primary Schools in Region 10.
The commission said the activities engaged hundreds of pupils and that through structured, interactive sessions the clubs aim to help children appreciate Guyana’s ethnic, cultural and religious diversity while promoting tolerance, empathy and peaceful conflict resolution.
Community engagement also featured prominently. On October 28, the ERC held a stakeholder consultation at the Toevlugt/Patentia Neighbourhood Democratic Council compound in Region Three, where residents and regional officials from Belle Vue, Good Intent, Sisters Village, Wales, Bagotville and Patentia raised community concerns and discussed practical ways to strengthen ethnic cohesion and peaceful relations.
The commission said matters raised were considered in keeping with its mandate, while issues outside its remit were directed to the relevant authorities.
The ERC said it remains committed to listening to citizens and working with institutions and communities to strengthen mutual respect among all Guyanese.
