National dialogue on unity takes centre stage at ERC’s “Guyana at 60” symposium 

The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) on Tuesday convened a national symposium titled “Guyana at 60: Unity, Diversity and the Path Forward” at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, bringing together leaders from the Government, the Parliamentary opposition, the diplomatic corps, the private sector, academia, civil society, faith communities, and youth to reflect on six decades of independence and to chart a course toward greater unity.
The symposium was designed to combine high-level dialogue with broad participatory engagement.
In his opening remarks, Chairman of the ERC, Shaikh Moeenul Hack, reminded the gathering that national unity is not a monument built once but a garden that must be tended in every generation.

“This symposium has shown that the work of unity belongs to every Guyanese. The honest reflections shared today and the recommendations they have produced will not end with the applause; they will shape the policy and the conscience of our nation for years to come,” he declared while noting that meaningful progress had been made but that the work of unity must continue, stressing that it cannot be left to chance.
“Harmony and the everyday tolerance that sustains it cannot be manufactured in a vacuum… It requires active, deliberate work,” he told the gathering, adding that when the Commission succeeds in its mission, “Guyana succeeds.”
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, providing remarks on behalf of the Government, posited that the country has advanced its melting pot of cultures since independence.

“If you look around today, you see a country comprising peoples of different ancestry, different ethnic origins, different religious persuasions, and different denominations. But notwithstanding all these historic distinctions, they live together very cohesively and very harmoniously in a country that I believe is beautifully diverse,” he added.
In addition, Opposition Member of Parliament and Chief Whip of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, reflected that “As we celebrate sixty years of independence, it is fitting that we ask ourselves a simple but uncomfortable question: How far have we truly come?” She acknowledged that, while significant progress has been made, the historical legacies of slavery, indentureship, and colonial “divide and rule”, with the perceptions they have left behind, continue to shape community trust, underscoring why the shared work of building fairness and inclusion must continue.
The feature address was delivered by the resident coordinator for the United Nations in Guyana Jean Kamau, who situated the country’s journey within the wider global pursuit of peace, human rights, equity, and sustainable development.
“Unity and diversity are not merely ideals. They are essential ingredients for building peaceful, inclusive, and resilient societies. They remind us that nation-building is an ongoing process, one that requires commitment, dialogue, understanding, and a willingness to embrace differences while working toward a common future. I know that for Guyana this is not a new process; rather, it is one that has been underway for decades,” she said.
A defining moment of the morning was the unveiling and collective recitation of the Symposium’s Unity Pledge, as participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to the national values of mutual respect, fairness, dignity, and unity.

Two concurrent panel discussions then followed. The first, held in the Dome and moderated by Linden Davidson, examined “Sixty Years: Challenges and Progress in Race and Ethnic Relations in Guyana” and featured Carl Greenidge, Indranie Chandarpal, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, and Keoma Griffith.
The second, held in the Lula Room and moderated by Dr Dylan Kerrigan of the UN, explored “Identity and National Cohesion: What Makes Us Guyanese” and featured former President Donald Ramotar, Amanza Walton Desir, Kit Nascimento, and Stanley Ming.
In a session devoted to Constituency Voices, representatives of the Commission’s constituency bodies, spanning the African, Indian, and Indigenous constituencies alongside Religious, Labour, Women’s, Youth, and Private Sector, each offered remarks and solutions on the way forward.
Throughout the day, participants completed a structured questionnaire, the data from which will form the empirical foundation of the Commission’s forthcoming report, “ERC’s Reflections on 60 Years”, which the Commission intends to lay before the National Assembly of Guyana.
The symposium closed with a summary of findings and a vote of thanks delivered by the deputy chairman of the commission, Charles Ogle.
The ERC extended its sincere gratitude to all the panellists, moderators, and participants, whose voices, the Commission noted, are the true foundation of the national conversation held.