The Ethnic Relations Commission is short
DEAR EDITOR,
An ERC statement stated, “The ERC is once again encouraging citizens to promote tolerance and understanding, especially towards those of different ethnicities for a better country.” The Ethnic Relations Commission has instituted court proceedings against eight offenders charged with aggravated hostility or racial ill will, under the Racial Hostility Act and for causing racial or ethnic violence under the Representation of the People Act . This is to be commended by an organization whose objective should be to prosecute careless and careless defaulters in abusing communications with the malicious intent of hurting any group of people, physically, verbally, sociologically or psychological. The ERC’s allegation of wanting to work vigorously to prevent the spread of racial incitement among Guyanese, especially on social media, is again commendable. This should be in line with the statutory body’s aims and its job is to promote peace and avoid violence for ethnic stability in society.
Guyanese can’t help but be wary of ERC functionality whose activities seem to suit reason for a season. The ERC wakes up when it wants to; the ERC is going to work on its whims and fancy; the ERC raises issues at its convenience only; the ERC is awaiting an optional term; then the ERC goes to pick cherries; the ERC operates with an aggrieved reason; the ERC is leased led; the ERC is a divided entity; the ERC makes uncertain decisions; the ERC is a fragmented collection; the ERC is not autonomous; external influence that determines the ERC; the ERC is clearly governed by political wealth. The ERC is transparent about money and parasitic imbibes at the expense of poor Guyanese taxpayers.
The ERC is not a true representative of equality, justice or fraternity. He needs to be released from prejudice gangs. He is incapable of calling a shovel a shovel. Instead, it reaches out to a shovel like a diamond and forfeits clubs hearts. His paper trail has established a journey of misbehavior, blindness and favoritism with his bleak isolation. The silence of the ERC on the last Election fiasco raises eyebrows and opens the door for questions, queries and quagmire “pussyfooting”. Cooperation, coordination, comfort and consolidation are not solid pillars of the ERC. Publishing statements that do not accompany a unified voice is dangerous, irresponsible and understandable. The ERC has failed the Guyanese public, misuses and misappropriates government funds and is part of a farcical absurdity because it refuses to comply with the true sense of its constitutional laws and regulations. Its utmost meaningfulness has disappeared and its significance has subsided. The refusal to investigate, trample and pervade Mr Granger and Mr Harmon’s vicious, reckless, irresponsible and prejudicial conduct and speeches last year during the turmoil in Berbice, affirms bias favored by curries and challenges the rationalism and fairness of this body.
Like the statutory bodies that include GECOM and GRHC, government needs to revisit the usefulness, openness, devotion and commitment of ERC components. It’s time to take action.
Respectfully,
Jai Lall