The ERC missed an excellent opportunity to demonstrate its independence

Apr 22, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
In a statement released on Monday night (04/18/11) the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) informed the public that it has launched an investigation into statements made by ACDA’s executive member Tacuma Ogunseye. An article published in the Chronicle Newspaper on Monday 19 April 2011, captioned “ACDA reads ‘riot act’ for power- sharing if opposition loses”, was identified as the source for the investigation.
According to the statement, Ogunseye is alleged to have made racially inciting comments at a public meeting held at Beterverwagting on 16 April 2011. The Commission indicated that its requisite personnel are reviewing Ogunseye’s comments to ascertain whether they were offensive to the Law as it relates to the Representation of the People Act and the Racial Hostility Act.
It is quite interesting that the ERC would act with such haste and vigour with regard to Ogunseye’s alleged comments, while refusing to even highlight the dangers of President Bharrat Jagdeo’s comments at Babu John months ago. Why the continued silence of the ERC when no one lesser than the President of Guyana would have gone to the Corentyne and call on a predominantly Indo-Guyanese community, and specifically on the older folks, to educate the youths of race hate of the past.
Why is the ERC silent when Jagdeo is out there inciting violence and stating that PNCR presidential candidate, David Granger, has blood on his hands? Is the ERC saying to Guyanese that Bharrat Jagdeo’ comments are not in contravention of the Representation of the Peoples Act and the Racial Hostility Act. Why is Mr. Juan Edghill so selective in his approach to the work of the ERC?
The ERC sits back in ‘deliberate silence’ and allow the President to malign David Granger and other Guyanese. What does the ERC make of Jagdeo’s and the PPP/C collective lies hurled at David Granger about some 1973 ballot box fiasco, given that the ERC is aware of the Dhan Jhappan Report which exposes the findings of an investigation conducted on that matter. I have stated before and I remain committed to my position that the ERC will have no moral authority for sanctioning any person, or entity when it turned a blind eye on Bharrat Jagdeo’s deeply racially charged comments, which are becoming daily features in the press.
Maybe if Juan Edghill had done the appropriate thing and sent out a cautionary word to Mr. Jagdeo for his hate speeches the ERC might have had good ground for summoning Tacuma Ogunseye or anyone whom it deemed acted in contravention to the laws the Commission might by mandated to enforce. The Commission cannot act in a manner, which projects a view that the rule of law must be observed selectively, and believes that Guyanese will sit idly by.
The ERC is quoted as saying, in its statement, “The ERC would like to reiterate that incitement or excitement to race hate must be rejected and will not be tolerated and assures the entire public who has read the article that it will use every option available to pursue it”. The statement further went on, “There is no place for the suggestions and views articulated in the article. This must be rejected by all the peace-loving people of Guyana.”
Why the ERC didn’t adopted this posture when Jagdeo was inciting that large gathering at Babu John, why weren’t comments of this nature made with respect to the President’s comments. All peace loving Guyanese rejected the President’s comments, but the ERC, for unknown reasons refused to comment. I believe the President has set a precedent, which Juan Edghill and the ERC cannot now outlaw.
The sad thing is that, this dangerous precedent was set at this critical juncture in our country, when National Elections are due to be held. In addition, while I find Mr.
Jagdeo’s charges out of sink with ‘presidential behaviour’ and simple decency, (for which we have come accustomed to) I strongly condemn the ERC for allowing these kinds of unhelpful behaviour and comments to pass without even a word of consternation or condemnation.
Jagdeo’s actions and the ERC’s inaction have opened the floodgates for the Representation of the Peoples Act and the Racial Hostility Act to be seriously challenged, and the ERC will be unable to stem the tide. Jagdeo’s continued utterances have the potential to cause others to call on other Guyanese to remember “Son Chapman” and the Linden mayhem etc.
The result will be a country embroiled in another strife that will take us decades back, the ERC could have counter this but abrogated its responsibility at the initial attack, hence there will be counter challenges.
The ERC cannot tell us that Jagdeo’s Presidential immunity gives him the right to make comments aimed at stirring up racial conversations and to cause people to cling to racial sentiments and considerations. I believed the ERC missed an excellent opportunity to demonstrate its independence and unbiased approach in conducting its business.
Then again, maybe the President did not expect Juan Edghill and the ERC to sanction him because he, Jagdeo, does not recognise the ERC as a duly constituted body. If, so the ERC has even more challenges coming its way.
I pray to God that good sense prevail.
Lurlene Nestor

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