ERC called in to probe “racial comments” by WPA member against PSC Head

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) was called in by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) to probe “racial comments” made by Government-nominated Commissioner on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and Executive Member of the Working Peoples Alliance (WPA), Desmond Trotman.

An executive of the PSC explained to Guyana Times on Friday that the ERC was officially requested to probe the comments, after a letter surfaced from Trotman responding to one written by President of the PSC Captain Gerry Gouveia, which was published in Guyana Times on July 22.
In Gouveia’s letter, headlined “Lowenfield was not legally directed to commence House-to-House Registration”, the PSC Chairman addressed the Chief Elections Officer stating, “We have sought legal advice on this matter and it is our understanding that you have not been legally directed by the Commission to proceed as you are doing and that to conduct House-to-House Registration is unlawful”.

The letter added, “We (PSC) have also noted that GECOM’s Internal Counsel has advised that GECOM would be in contempt of the ruling of the CCJ to carry out any instruction in this regard from former Chairman James Patterson, whose appointment by the President has been ruled to be flawed”.
Among other things, the PSC Chair at that time had called for GECOM to suspend House-to-House Registration.
Trotman, in his response letter dated July 24, 2019 to the PSC Chair, argued that he felt that Gouveia’s letter was riddled with inaccuracies and moreover aimed at disgracing Lowenfield’s character. Trotman stated, “It is not a true narrative of events and is deliberately designed to hold Lowenfield up to public ridicule. Additionally, your letter, in its attempt at assassinating his character and impugning by interference what you believe are his intentions, places the lives of Lowenfield and other members of his family in serious jeopardy”.
Moreover the letter said, “Further, what I found most disconcerting is the tone you adopted— a tone consistent with that of a white slave owner, who, in the presence of his overseers, is penalising a delinquent slave for failing to carry out the instructions of “massa”. When I read that part of your letter I was filled with anger and I imagined the treatment of my forefathers by yours, as they were beaten…”
Several calls made to the Chairman of ERC, Pastor John Smith, went unanswered on Friday; however, this publication was told by an officer at the ERC that the probe has commenced.
In a statement to the media, PSC condemned the racist attack of a Government-appointed GECOM Commissioner.
“This disgraceful, extremely offensive and defamatory behaviour has no place in GECOM or a democratic society. We would expect the Government to take the appropriate action with regard to Mr Trotman’s attack on the integrity and good name of the PSC Chairman,” the PSC said.
The PSC, headed by Captain Gerald Gouveia, represents a large number of local businesses in Guyana. These firms pay 82 per cent of the total income and corporation taxes to Government and employ thousands of Guyanese, the PSC explained.
The Commission is known for speaking out against certain issues affecting the country, including political matters which ultimately affect the investment climate and the business community.
In recent times, the PSC has been urging all political players to abide by the Guyana Constitution and had called out President David Granger for failing to do so.