The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) says studies on five important areas of concern in the country found no real evidence of discrimination but a perception that certain ethnic groups are discriminated against.
On Wednesday ERC Chairman Bishop Juan Edghill said the studies were conducted at a cost of $5.6M when he presented the report to Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran. The handing over was done at the Speaker’s office at Parliament Buildings.
The reports covered the distribution of economic opportunities, the award of academic scholarships in Guyana, employment practices, land distribution and public procurement and tendering. They were done at a cost of $5,645,000 and $554,464 for production.
The chairman said the award and distribution of economic opportunities like loans was a hot issue. Persons, he said, were saying only one group was getting loans. However, the studies found that a large number of Afro-Guyanese was never refused loans and knew of no one who was refused either. But the general belief was that they would not get loans. Edghill said that some commercial banks have sector divisions on how they lend and researchers said this informed the perception.
As regard the awarding of academic scholarships in Guyana, Edghill said there is an outcry that there is ethnic discrimination but the studies found that while there may be areas for improvement the system is fair and there is no discrimination. He added that the findings suggest that there are more feelings involved than evidence.
The second report on employment practices in the public and private sectors and in non-governmental organisations revealed that there is an increase of Indo-Guyanese in the State sector. The chairman said the studies found that Afro-Guyanese were leaving the state sector for better jobs in the private sector. Edghill also said that it is largely balanced and that retirement is a factor. Recommendations were also included in the report.
On the issue of public procurement and tendering, the studies found that there were some concerns about the entire process as it relates to appeals and there is a call for a public procurement commission.
He also said evidence that there was ethnic discrimination in the procurement of contracts were inconclusive but the study did find that many Afro-Guyanese contractors complained about not getting work but shied away from taxes and some groups called for action.
The ERC also presented a report on land distribution. Edghill said he hoped the reports won’t turn to dust and urged the Assembly to scrutinize them. The chairman also called for a debate on the issues examined.
Ramkarran, after receiving the reports, thanked the ERC and committed to making sure that the reports were distributed to the members of parliament (MPs). However, he said that that was as far as his powers extend.
General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Donald Ramotar, Alliance For Change MPs, Khemraj Ramjattan and Sheila Holder, other parliamentarians and ERC staff also attended the ceremony.
