Latest update October 5th, 2024 12:59 AM
Apr 27, 2011 News
– ERC
The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has admonished President Bharrat Jagdeo for statements made to PPP supporters at Babu John, Port Mourtant on March 13, describing his remarks as a dangerous and unnecessary precedent.
The decision by the ERC was in response to public comments and opinions which the statements attracted, including accusations that they were racially divisive and inflammatory.
On Sunday March 13, last, at the annual memorial held to commemorate the lives of two former Presidents of Guyana, Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Mrs. Janet Jagan at Babu John, President Bharrat Jagdeo delivered the feature address which was given wide publicity and has since been the subject of intense media scrutiny and commentaries.
According to the ERC, on its own accord it has determined that the matter should be investigated.
The main source of concern was a part of the president’s speech which stated: “The PNC has just chosen as their presidential candidate a man who was very active in that era, the era of oppression, the era of starving our people, and I say this because they have gone backwards, they have gone backwards to choose someone who is characterized by repression, who has blood on his hands, because the people in Berbice, just here, the people who were killed protecting ballot boxes, protecting democracy, were killed in full knowledge of people like Granger and others who controlled the political directions of the country at the time…So they’re counting on poor memories and they’re counting on the lack of knowledge on the part of young people to bring these white elephants, behemoths, the fossils of the past back in the political arena, and I hope that you will as I ask you, make sure that people are educated about that past…”
The ERC said that having reviewed the president’s statement, it has adopted several conclusions on the matter, while acting under Article 212D of the Constitution of Guyana, considering all the information at its disposal, regarding the said matter and having deliberated on it on the 11th April, 2011 at a specially convened meeting.
According to the ERC, it would appear that the PPP/C has begun its political campaign by focusing its attention on the recently named presidential candidate of the PNCR, David Granger, in what has been considered in some quarters as a personalised attack on a presidential candidate.
The issue that arises for the Commission’s determination is whether the reference to the PNCR’s presidential candidate as having ‘blood on his hands’ and a broader reference to Guyana’s political past (the ‘era of oppression, the era of starvation’) is in contravention of the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act No 1 of 2001; and/or the Racial Hostility Act, Cap 23:01.
The reference to ‘people who were killed protecting ballot boxes’ may be ascribed to a factual historic occurrence when the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) shot and killed three PPP activists who were among a group attempting to block the army from removing ballot boxes during the 1973 national elections, the ERC stated.
According to the ERC, while the Commission noted commentary in various sections of the media that the President’s speech may have lacked some amount of decorum and perhaps was considered to be intemperate, the Commission does not find that the statements made and which may be based on a historical occurrence was a willful attempt to excite hostility against any section of the public or against any person on the basis of their race; nor is the Commission of the opinion that the statement can result in racial or ethnic violence among people in the context and meaning of the legislation.
“The Commission however finds that while it may be useful to give pause and to reflect on our common history and events in the past, that it may not be in the interest of any political party to appeal to controversial events of the past. This is more especially so if as an ad captandum vulgus (Latin, ‘to win over the crowd’), it is intended implicitly or explicitly to attract, please or to pander to any form of ethnic insecurities, which in turn may be capable of being used to isolate or to bring further division to all people in this country.
To this end, the Ethnic Relations Commission is reminding all leaders of communities and political parties to set the proper example and to act responsibly.”
October 1st turn off your lights to bring about a change!
Oct 05, 2024
2024 Caribbean Premier League Qualifier 2…GAW vs. BR Kaieteur Sports – A classy fifty from middle-order batsman Shai Hope mixed with a good spell from pacer Romario Shepherd took the Guyana...Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News – The issue of appointing someone to either act as or become the substantive Commissioner... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]