The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has over the past few months intensified its monitoring of local media and citizens using social media platforms, to discourage the heightening of tensions and the promotion of discriminatory practices due to political developments.
The ERC said in a press release on Wednesday that it continues to monitor the outputs of Guyanese television, radio, newspaper and online news entities, as well as comments posted by persons on social media.
“Monitoring mechanisms, which have been intensified over the past few months in keeping with demands resulting from the ongoing political developments, have captured various instances, through publishing, facilitated and self-perpetuated, that are deemed counterproductive to the process of promoting harmony and good relations across Guyana,” it explained.
It added that it would be engaging those persons involved in bahaviour which encourages disharmony and is working assiduously to educate them and to discourage the practices.
The ERC noted that the work is in keeping with its constitutional mandate, as enshrined in Article 212(D) of the constitution, and is more particularly intended to discourage persons and institutions from heightening tensions through incitement and from indulging in, advocating or promoting discrimination or discriminatory practices on the ground of ethnicity.
It reminded that under section 139 D (1) of the Representation of the People’s Act, “any person who makes or publishes or causes to be made or published any statement; or takes any action, which results or can result in racial or ethnic violence or hatred among the people shall be liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of one hundred thousand dollars together with imprisonment for two years”. And under section 139 D (2), “Every person convicted of an offence under subsection (1) shall, in addition to any punishment under the said subsection, be incapable, during the period of five years from the date of the conviction, of being a member of the National Assembly or being a member of any local democratic organ or the holder of any constitutional or statutory office.”
The Commission advised citizens to familarise themselves with that area of the law, which it said it believes will lead them to practice restraint. The release added that related public service announcements will be placed in the media as pertinent reminders.
“Currently, the Commission is in the process of engaging the media and political Parties, both Parliamentary and non-Parliamentary, with the intention of working for national consensus to educate and discourage acts that are not in keeping with the fostering of national harmony…All are encouraged to be responsible in related endeavours,” the ERC advised.
