The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) says that the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), as presently constituted, is not in conformity with the constitution and laws and is spending scarce tax payers’ money to carry out un-constitutional activities.
The GTUC in a statement yesterday declared that this situation must be corrected without delay.
Earlier this week former chairman of the ERC and now Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill, said that the cutting by the opposition of $99.4 million for the entity in this year’s budget has effectively shut it down as it cannot pay salaries nor meet its operating expenses like electricity, water and internet bills.
Addressing members of the media at a press conference Tuesday at the Ministry of Finance in his capacity as Minister within the Ministry of Finance, he said there is nothing that the Ministry could do to provide money to an entity that Parliament has not approved.
However, the GTUC is maintaining that the general ERC staff “must not be used as political weapons, sacrificial lambs and pawns in the process of correcting the problem or maintaining the problem.” Labour, the GTUC added, has an abiding interest in full employment because it sees work as the principal means of taking people out of poverty.
The GTUC pointing to the ERC’s non-conformity with the constitution and laws observed that “since September 2007 the ERC has been staffed with three, now two commissioners, which is in breach of the Constitution. This is a violation that must be condemned by all law abiding citizens and our voice added to having the situation corrected.”
The GTUC in making its case cited Article 212B (1) of the Constitution:
“The Ethnic Relations Commission shall consist of – (a) not less than five nor more than fifteen members nominated by entities, by a consensual mechanism determined by the National Assembly, including entities, representatives of religious bodies, the labour movement, the private business sector, youth and women, after the entities are determined by the votes of votes of not less than two-thirds of all elected members of the National Assembly”.
The Parliament, the GTUC asserted, must move to put measures in place to bring the ERC in conformity with the Constitution.
“This matter of the ERC being properly constituted has to be resolved in parliament according to the constitution. The opposition must use its majority and give leadership to the society by attending to this matter in the House,” the GTUC urged.
The umbrella trades union body said further that the Members of Parliament must “demonstrate to this nation their commitment or lack of commitment to the constitution and the ERC operating consistent with same.”
Meanwhile, the GTUC acknowledged that the ERC has a “very crucial role to play in this society, to among other things, create the environment where we can ‘celebrate our cultural and racial diversity and strengthen our unity by eliminating any and every form of discrimination’ according to the Preamble of the Guyana Constitution.”
The GTUC noted also that Guyana is a “diverse nation forged together and sustained for centuries through conflicts, ‘divide and rule’ ideology, hatred, mistrust and lack of understanding of the cultural uniqueness of all groups.”
“Correcting these deficiencies require us talking through our differences, making known our concerns and having the avenue to channel same in a constructive manner. This is what the ERC is there for and if it functions consistent with its mandate it can aide in realizing the society we all aspire to – that is peaceful co-existence and equitable development,” the GTUC asserted.
