The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has two complaints before it. The Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) submitted one in relation to the book written by Dr Kean Gibson, aspects of which it alleges malign Hindus and contain untruths about the Indians in Guyana.

An unidentified public servant lodged the other complaint which alleges that he/she was unfairly transferred as the result of an involvement in an inter-racial relationship about which some derogatory remarks had been made.

Chairman of the ERC, Bishop Juan Edghill, at a press conference yesterday to mark the initiation of the commission's work programme, said the commission would begin its in-house consideration of the complaint against Dr Gibson's book next month.

The press conference was held at the Parliamentary Library where the commission has been meeting since its first session on September 2. It expects to move into temporary accommodations at Bidco House, Peter Rose and Anira streets, also next month.

He explained that the commission would decide whether or not to hold public hearings at which both the IAC and Dr Gibson, or a representative if she so chooses, would be heard.

In answer to questions from reporters about the sanctions the commission could impose, Bishop Edghill said the legislation establishing the commission empowers it to make recommendations to the relevant bodies as to the sanctions provided for in the relevant legislation.

The ERC chairman also indicated that the commission planned to begin operations with a staff of 16 so as to ensure that it could make efficient use of the resources allocated to it. He said this was a process it decided to pursue at the urging of the Office of the President. When fully operational and addressing all the issues it is mandated to deal with, the organisational chart of the secretariat will call for a staff complement of between 32-35.

Edghill also said that the Public Service Ministry and the Public Service Commission had been informed of its requests for accounting and clerical staff and that it planned to begin advertising shortly for the chief executive officer and secretary to the commission, as well as a legal officer and the head of its investigative unit.

Bishop Edghill said to discharge the commission's immediate tasks, the secretariat would have a "legal and investigative unit, which would be involved in matters such as the promotion of arbitration, conciliation, mediation and like forms of dispute resolution."

He said the investigative unit, besides monitoring and reviewing all legislation and administrative acts or omissions relating to or having implications for ethnic relations and equal opportunities, would investigate complaints of racial discrimination.

Edghill expressed the hope that "this unit will be headed by a legally trained person who will be supported by an officer tasked with the groundwork of investigation and dispute resolution."

He said he and his colleagues would be prepared to visit communities, which complained of being denied access to services offered by the government and non-governmental organisations. He said the commission would then make recommendations to the relevant bodies to address the complaints once they have merit.

The secretariat will also have on staff "a public relations/education type of person" to assist in the discharge of the commission's responsibility for implementing programmes to foster a sense of security among all ethnic groups.

Edghill said that the commission's objective is to have its secretariat up and running "by next February to enable us to serve Guyana as we have been mandated by the Constitution." Its work programme covers the period December 18 to June 30, 2004.

During the first quarter of its work, the commission intends to meet with its constituencies - the bodies represented on the commission as well as the political parties. Among those with which the commission will meet during the second quarter are the ethnic-based organisations. He said the objective of the meetings would be to sensitise the various organisations as to their mandate and how they intended to pursue it and to seek their co-operation in creating an environment conducive to building social cohesion.

He said part of its education programme would be airing on television the results of ethnic conflict in other parts of the world. Also he said that the commission intends to discuss with the media their role in bringing about the required environment for building social cohesion.

Since its first meeting on September 2, the Committees Division of the Parliament Office has been providing administrative and other support to the commission. The Parliament Office has been meeting the expenditure the commission has incurred to date.

The chairman told reporters that because of scheduling conflicts of meetings at the Public Buildings, the commission has to find other accommodation and the Office of the President is aware of the urgency with which it has to do this.