Every effort is being made by government to address challenges to development such as violent crime, high rates of unemployment, corruption, and prolonged ethnic divisions, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman recently told a United Nations (UN) rights committee.
“We are very aware of the threats and challenges to holistic growth and development such as violent crime, high rates of unemployment, ugly instances of corruption, and prolonged ethnic divisions. The results of these ills have been some of the highest rates of migration of both skilled and unskilled labour in the world,” Trotman told the 56th session of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in Geneva, Switzerland last week.
“Mr Chairman, I offer you our government’s assurance that every effort is being made to address these challenges so as to ensure that there is a good life for all of Guyana’s citizens,” he added, according to the text of his remarks released by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The CESCR is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights by States that have signed on to the Covenant. All States parties are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented. States must report initially within two years of accepting the Covenant and thereafter every five years. The Committee examines each report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of “concluding observations.”
For years, Guyana had not submitted its reports but did so in 2012, when it submitted a combined second to fourth periodic report, which covers an 18-year period from 1995 to 2012.
Obligations
In his opening statement, Trotman reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations to the international treaties which it has ratified. “In the context of a tumultuous world where rights can easily be trampled in the name of political expediency and the most vulnerable can become mere statistics, we understand the challenges and see quite clearly that the response must be to enhance democracy, develop peaceful communities, and eradicate poverty through policies that place the needs of the people (at) the centre of any development agenda,” he said.
Trotman noted the May 11 election of David Granger as president of Guyana and said that there are a few very subjective comments of the past PPP/C government in the submitted report which the current government does not endorse. He added that both time and circumstances have overtaken some aspects of the report.
The minister told the UN committee that there is awareness of the limitations of the revised constitution in serving the broader interest of the country. “As such the current government has appointed a Committee to prepare us for another round of constitutional reform with the full participation of the people. The emphasis of this new round of constitutional reform will be to have a reduction of the powers of the President, defining and deepening our inclusive democracy, and making the Legislature more representative and meaningful,” he said.
Integrity
“Likewise the checks and balances that are necessary for the improved integrity of the State apparatus and its protection of the rights of the people will be further enhanced with these changes. The rule of law, the vanquishing of corruption and the significantly increased transparency of governance mechanisms are all priorities of this new government that will positively impact the rights of the Guyanese people,” he added.
According to Trotman, this is especially significant because the state is seeking to firmly establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increased opportunities for the participation of citizens and their organizations in the management and decision-making processes of the state. Deepening of democratic processes is clearly desirable as an end in itself and also holds the potential for more effective realisation of economic rights for the Guyanese people at large, he said.
He told the UN committee that Guyana has made many strides over the decades to institutionalise the protection of economic, social and cultural rights and many pieces of legislation, policies and programmes have been created to this end. He highlighted the establishment of the Women and Gender Equality Commission as well as the creation of a domestic violence policy response.
“The country is now focused on the review and implementation of this policy and efforts are underway to create a gender policy that would address issues of gender relations in the context of an ever changing world and particularly in a Guyanese context where such issues are notably prevalent,” he said.
Trotman added that government recognizes that greater gender equality and empowerment are essential ingredients for the eradication of poverty in Guyana. “Therefore, the government intends to introduce policies to encourage the rebuilding of Guyana’s family structure, the sharing of caring tasks between mothers and fathers as well as mentoring and financially supporting Guyana’s children,” he disclosed.
Cultural rights
Meantime, according to Trotman, the protection and fulfillment of cultural rights in Guyana “is perhaps best exemplified by the continuous efforts being made to raise the national profile” of Guyana’s indigenous peoples; the recognition of Amerindian land rights; the establishment of the month of September to celebrate the culture of the nine tribes and the revitalization of efforts within the education sector to not only preserve the languages but to ensure that the content of education is culturally relevant and beneficial.
He also pointed to the convening of a Social Cohesion Roundtable in early September, which he said saw the participation of hundreds of Guyanese of every diversity to discuss ways of achieving greater respect for, and celebration of, the different cultures in Guyana.
“Guyana’s model of inclusionary governance facilitates the participation of indigenous leaders and people in the political landscape, free to determine their political status and pursue their economic, social and cultural development. Amerindian elected leaders and communities are included and participate in all major national strategic, legislative and developmental forums,” he said.
He also said that the High Court in 2011, established a special Constitutional and Public Law Court which deals exclusively with constitutional and public law matters. This has allowed for constitutional motions to be addressed expeditiously, Trotman said while adding that the establishment of the Family Court has been long awaited and overdue. “Efforts are ongoing to select the necessary staff and finalise the protocols for operation. This will certainly enhance the protection of the rights of the people especially children and the more vulnerable in our society,” he said.
“The new government intends to ensure that the focus of the new economic drive is on job creation. In keeping with our commitment to break with the past and bring a fresh approach to governing in the best interest of Guyana and all her people, we must acknowledge that our young people are one of our most valuable resources, especially since some 60 percent of Guyana’s population is under 35 years of age,” Trotman asserted.
He said that the number of capacity building programmes for youth created by the previous administration though meaningful was not married with a national plan to propel youths into the job market. “Training programmes are now to be planned based on market demand, the burgeoning oil and gas industry, and the growing focus on greening of our economy. We will need a highly skilled, educated work force that is capable of responding to these new demands to drive the economic and social transformation of our country,” he said.
The minister also told the UN Committee that the government intends to create a green economy “one which has as its foundation the respect for and preservation of our environment whilst utilizing our natural resources in a sustainable manner.”
