ERC invites submissions for discourse to improve ethnic relations

Amidst major criticism

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) is moving ahead with its continuous National Conversation to foster nation-building and is inviting Guyanese at home and abroad to record and submit videos or written contributions on improving ethnic relations.
In a statement, the Commission said the deadline for submissions is March 28. It is appealing to citizens at the grassroots level to add their voices to the topic for the entire Guyanese nation: “How can we improve ethnic relations?”
It said that as with the first national discourse held in December 2020, the general intent is to have frank and open discussions to capture diverse views on factors that impede ethnic harmony, along with recommendations.
Guyanese at home and abroad are invited to submit videos (MP4 format) recorded by a professional camera, smartphone or any other device, not more than 20 minutes long, or written contributions and suggestions that focus on improving relations among all ethnicities.
The videos will be uploaded on ERC’s Facebook page and YouTube channel after a content review, approved and recommended by the Commission’s legal team as respectable for online viewership and discussion. The submissions can be sent via email to [email protected] or by inbox to ERC Facebook Messenger before the due date.
The ERC said that it is again urging Guyanese from all walks of life to get involved and make their contributions to promote tolerance and understanding for a better society. It said that it hopes that the varying points of view from contributors can serve in some measure as a blueprint for possible solutions to the related challenges that confront citizens in the multi-ethnic society.
The ERC has come in for major criticism for its lack of input during the post-elections period following the March 2, 2020 General and Regional Elections. During the five months when APNU/AFC attempted to thwart the will of Guyanese in an attempt to rig the elections, the ERC did not intervene in the racially-charged atmosphere created especially by social media.
Likewise, the body again was highly criticised in the aftermath of the brutal killing of Joel and Isaiah Henry, followed by the murders of Haresh Singh and Prettipaul Hargobin in West Coast Berbice. Among the criticisms of the body was that it was more reactive and did not intervene to prevent the racially-directed violence from getting out of control. (G12)