…says sentiments contrary to harmony, good relations
The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has outrightly condemned and distanced itself from a Facebook post made by one of its Commissioners, Rohan Khan, which it said does not coincide with its mandate of promoting harmony and good relations.
Khan received instant backlash on social media following the post which was in relation to the unrest in West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), as a result of the brutal slaying of three teenage boys.
Khan, in a Facebook post, urged persons of a certain ethnicity to “create their watch and protection groups. Equipped with batons and sticks for self-defense only. Be firm and clever but never be the aggressor. Protect minorities in your communities”.
He soon after edited the post to read: “In Berbice, Guyanese need to create their watch and protection groups. Equipped with batons and sticks for self-defense only. Be firm and clever but never be the aggressor. Protect minorities in your communities.”
On Thursday, the ERC said that Khan’s statement had been reported and it wishes to disassociate itself from it. In a disclaimer typed in all caps, the ERC made it clear that “The Ethnic Relations Commission wishes to dissociate itself from the social media post made by ERC Commissioner Roshan Khan Sr and reported to the ERC, that do not coincide with its mandate to promote ‘harmony and good relations’.”
Most importantly, the ERC said that the post made by Khan is not expected of an ERC Commissioner and therefore contradicts the role and functions of the ERC.
Standing by comments
When contacted on Friday, Khan told Guyana Times, “I’m completely standing by what I said.” Khan maintained that “it was not a bad post.”
He expressed that he is “even sorry” that he removed his initial post.
Unfit
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon has since called for Khan to be removed from the ERC with immediate effect as he is no longer fit to carry out the functions of the body provided for by virtue of Article 212 D of the Constitution.
But Khan is questioning why he should be removed from the Commission. He was reminded by the reporter that Harmon described his statement as “divisive” and “racial”. In response, Khan said that Harmon can say whatever he wants to say. “He [Harmon] is not God,” Khan asserted.
In the meantime, Khan has criticised the ERC for its handling of the unrest at West Coast Berbice. He stated that the Commission needs to go and meet with the families of the deceased and the people affected and “send out a proper press release” and conduct “proper investigations.”
“Personally, I think the [ERC] was very careless in not sending out proper releases and even critiquing those political leaders of the Opposition who went in there and were inciting people. [ERC] did not say anything to tell those people to watch their words, nor have they tried to invite them in to face the ERC.”
