Work advances to set up new Ethnic Relations Commission
THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Appointments Wednesday met with various groups to sensitise them on the process by which persons could be nominated to sit on the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC).The event was held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal,Greater Georgetown. Stakeholders who attended included representatives of the Christian, Islamic and Hindu organstaion, the Labour Movement, the private sector, youth groups, women’s groups, and cultural bodies.
In attendance were Public Health Minister Dr. George Norton, Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally, Opposition Members of Parliament Gail Teixeira, Bishop Juan Edghill and Ganga Persaud.
Chairperson of the Committee Dr. George Norton, said as provided for under Article 212 of the Guyana Constitution, the ERC advocates equality of opportunity among persons of different ethnic groups; promotes the elimination of all forms of ethnic-based discrimination; and discourages persons, institutions, political parties and associations from indulging in discriminatory practices.
Teixeira said representatives will be divided into clusters because of the 10 nominees needed.
She said the process used to choose representatives from these clusters must be a fair and democratic one. As , the sensitisation session was needed for an impartial decision-making process.
Once nominated, the names have to be agreed to by the National Assembly and then the names will be sent to the President, who is responsible for appointing and swearing the members to the Commission.
She explained that the first meeting will be called by the Speaker of the House, where the committee members will observe the elections of the chairman and vice-chairman.
Teixeira , the Opposition Chief Whip in the National Assembly, said all elected officials must be knowledgeable of their functions and the constitutional bodies they represent.
She said the members of the commission who are appointed by the President must understand it is a constitutional responsibility that once taken has certain responsibilities that must be executed.
These commissioners, she said, must prepare themselves for meetings and reading up on the provisions available for the ERC.
“The persons appointed as commissioners no longer represent their individual cluster; so they no longer can say well I’m just a labour person and I’m not dealing with [a] matter of women or business in the commission. You evaporate the cluster cloak and you become a commissioner for the entire commission under the constitution,” Teixeira emphasised.
However, she said commissioners are encouraged to keep contact with the organisations that nominated them and meet at least twice a year to give them an idea of what the Commission is working on. She said all commissioners will receive stipends.
The ERC derived from recommendations of the Herdmanston Accord, signed on January 17, 1998, between then President Janet Jagan and Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte.
Brokered by a CARICOM mission, the Accord sought to provide a peaceful solution to the political impasse that had gripped the country after the contentious December 1997 Regional and General Elections.
The first members of the ERC were appointed in 2003 in compliance with the new constitutional provisions.
