Brian Kayume, the University of Guyana (UG) student who was featured in a viral video making a racist joke, has once again publicly apologised for his comments.
The latest apology has come in wake of a meeting with the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC).
The video, which was widely circulated on various social media platforms, saw Kayume receiving criticism, which caused him to then post an initial apology video, which was also not received well.
In a video apology after being called in by the ERC, Kayume stated that he was offering an apology “from the heart” to Guyanese and specifically to Afro-Guyanese persons.
He had initially posted the offensive video on November 5th to his Instagram account.
“It wasn’t my intent to make it very offensive although it did come off as offensive, and to the people that were offended by it, by my derogatory terms, I did not mean it and I didn’t mean to offend you, your families or the president of this country, who just so happens to be Afro-Guyanese,” Kayume said in his video apology, which was yesterday shared to media and posted to the ERC’s Facebook page. He further noted that he has much respect for everyone and hopes that with time he can be forgiven.
In response to the apology, ERC Chairman Reverend John Smith pointed out that the ERC believes that punishment is not only about restitution but also rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Smith then added that the ERC accepts Kayume’s apology and said that the student understands the magnitude of his actions.
When Kayume spoke to Stabroek News in November, he noted that he was not trying to seem condescending in the initial apology he made subsequent to the video going viral. He said that at that time he was receiving threats from persons. He had also stated that he spoke to his friends who were Afro-Guyanese following the incident and they “laughed it off”. He said then that he was still being victimised for his actions even after he had apologised through written letters and an apology video.
