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Racial discrimination at workplace tops complaints dealt with by ERC
Based on figures presented by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) racial discrimination accounted for the majority of the cases it has dealt with.
At the end of June, 2019, the entity’s records show a total of 48 complaints were made. Also at the end of that period its Investigative Department resolved a sum of 18 complaints.
The complaints made to the Commission fall under nine categories, namely: religious discrimination, racial discrimination at work place, political issue, racial discrimination on social media platform, labour related complaints, economic marginalization, racial discrimination by a Government agency, racial discrimination at a public place and racial discrimination by a private company.
It was noted that complaints received by the ERC during the six month period also came from Members of Parliament.
A total of 13 persons reported that they received racial discrimination at their work place. Religious discrimination and economic marginalization followed behind with eight reports.
Political issue and racial discrimination on a social media platform was next with six and four reports respectively. Labour related complaints, racial discrimination by a Government agency, and racial discrimination by a private company secured two, two and one reports individually.
According to the ERC, the majority of the complaints received, were from Region Four, with a 58 percentage; while the social media platforms specifically Facebook and WhatsApp accounted for 18 percent.
Furthermore, a 34 percent of the complaints were made against the two major ethnic groups African and East Indian. A sum of 25 percent of the reports was levied against Government Agencies inclusive of Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).
ERC noted that the bulk of the complaints received were from males and this accounted for a 56 percentage of the reports.
The ERC is a constitutional body established by an agreement from all political parties in the National Assembly on March 8, 2002. After the collapse of the first Commission, due to the Commissioners’ decline in numbers leading to non-performance, the new Commission was appointed on February 22, 2018. It became operational on April 24, 2018.
Under Article 212D of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, the ERC has 24 functions – one of which is a mandate to investigate complaints from citizens across the country where acts of alleged ethnic discrimination have been committed.
The Commission is mandated to enforce the Racial Hostility Act and the Representation of the Peoples (Amendment) Act. The Commission has taken this step to inform the public that anyone found guilty under the Racial Hostility Act, Chapter 23:01 (as amended in the Racial Hostility (Amendment Act) of 2002), shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of $250,000 and imprisonment for three years.
Moreover, anyone found guilty under the Representation of the Peoples (Amendment) Act, Chapter 1:03 shall be liable to conviction on indictment to a fine of $100,000 together with imprisonment for two years.
In this regard, the Commission has enlisted a Legal Officer to handle the legal requirements in all cases.
In a statement the Commission pledged to continue to work assiduously for amicable resolutions in keeping with its mandate of “Promoting harmony and good relations” across the country where acts of alleged ethnic discrimination have been committed.
Also, the Commission is mandated to enforce the Racial Hostility Act and the Representation of the Peoples (Amendment) Act.
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