Contracts must be shared equally among ethnic groups
11 ERC hears in Region Two
Kaieteur News
June 24, 2004
“Don’t allow political activist to use you as window dressing to score political points”.
This was the Ethnic Relations Commission’s (ERC) plea to the Region Two Regional Democratic Council and members of the People’s National Congress Reform, at the final day of its outreach programme in Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast.
Giving a brief history, Chairman of the Commission Bishop Juan Edghill stated that the commission was not appointed out of a dialogue with the major parties nor was it appointed by the President.
He said the commission was constitutionally appointed and its work is therefore guarded.
He noted that the commission was born out of the post-election tensions in 1997 when the ‘three wise men’ team from CARICOM intervened to determine what could have been done to reduce racial tension in Guyana. At yesterday’s session, the two major political parties voiced their opinion relating to ethnic issues in Guyana. PNCR Member of Parliament Mr.Ivor Alleyne submitted what he described as discriminatory practices perpetrated by the PPP administration in Region Two.
He listed the various positions within the RDC, adding that all those jobs are occupied by non-African Guyanese. The PNCR representative said he has also recognized that “less than two percent of the non-Indian contractors on the Essequibo Coast have been awarded less than one percent of the infrastructure contracts coming through the RDC.”
He added this amount accounted for less than one percent of the funds given to the region by the government.
The Chairman Bishop Edghill questioned the MP on whether he was aware of the percentage of non-Indians who tendered for those infrastructure contracts.
He told Alleyne to present the evidence of the alleged ethnic imbalance in the awarding of contracts to the commission and it will be investigated. Mr Alleyne contended that the National Assembly does not facilitate the type of constituency based representation so that such issues could be addressed at the highest forum. He noted that in the past, parliament would convene a ‘member’s day’ when regional representatives would raise concerns of their constituencies. Bishop Edghill said that the commission will submit a recommendation to the National Assembly to re-institute constitutionally based representations. Meanwhile, the commission’s muslim representative, Mr. Shafeek Khan, told the gathering that once Guyanese adopt the philosophy that “we had no choice in the way we were created”, racial tension will become non-existent.
Commissioner Ramkissoon Maharaj suggested that Guyanese can form a “unified existence out of our diversity”. He stated that “ethnic tolerance is inadequate if we are to co-exist in a multicultural society such as Guyana. He said we must exhibit respect for each other and not just tolerance.”
Commissioner John Williems in his presentation told the participants that Guyanese have been torn apart by politicians. “The racial strife has torn us apart to such an extent that people are running away to what is misconceived as greener pastures, where they have to work twice as hard to survive. We can make it beautiful here. Despite all this rain, we can make it together,” he stated.
Under article 212D of the Constitution of Guyana, the ERC is mandated to facilitate equal opportunity between persons of different ethnic groups and to promote harmony and good relations between such persons.
Among other things, the commission monitors and makes recommendations to the National Assembly and other relevant public and private sector bodies on factors inhibiting the development of harmonious relations between ethnic groups.