Dress Code out of line with Modern Thinking – GHRA Head

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Dress Code out of line with Modern Thinking – GHRA Head

Jul 31, 2016 News

The matter of there being a dress code has once again attracted public opinion by activists and citizens alike.
According to the Head of Guyana Human Rights Association, Mike McCormack, the dress codes which are being upheld by both private and public entities are not in line with modern thinking.
Recently, President David Granger during his Public Interest broadcast said that the dress code is an unnecessary imposition, especially when persons would have travelled distances to conduct business with the government. He further said that the measures have been taken to ridiculous extremes.
According to the GHRA Head, the decision as to who should judge whether someone is dressed appropriately is usually left up to the security guards stationed at government buildings and private businesses.
He said that the management of government institutions and businesses essentially decide on a dress code but it is left to someone who didn’t play a part in the conception of the code to make the final judgement. McCormack considers this as an unacceptable measure.
The human rights activist recommends that a general statement be erected at these locations and it should state clearly that persons must be dressed appropriately before entry. He said that what is appropriate should be tested based on what is accepted by society today.
McCormack doesn’t believe that there needs to be any consultation to decide what should be the appropriate dress code. Ultimately, it should be left up to the conscience of persons to dress appropriately when entering particular places of business, whether public or private.
President Granger during his televised programme had said that it is a mystery where the “dress code” originated. He believes that some of the requirements in the so-called code are backward.
He said, “If the person is clean and decently clad and doesn’t offend public morality, I think the public services should be extended to those persons.” According to the Head of State the issue should be reviewed since it has become a public nuisance.
On Monday last there was a protest outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court by a group of activists who demanded that there should be a holistic approach to addressing the issue.
There is no legal basis for the dress code. The Constitution of Guyana does not contain a provision which prescribes a dress code which should be adhered to when entering public buildings. How a person dresses is primarily based on the accepted standards by society.
It is this premise which McCormack believes should influence the country’s position on the matter.

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One thought on “Dress Code out of line with Modern Thinking – GHRA Head”

RLSG August 1, 2016 at 12:07 pm

” Mr. President, after consultations with the relevant authorities all you have to do is say ‘the dress codes for doing business in public buildings is hereby rescinded” but then again since this is Guyana the message will take a long time to get to the security guards as self-appointed purveyors of the dress code, just like the police who still put up illegal roadblocks even though the order to stop this practice came from the police chief himself. You have to make those decisions Mr. President … stop slow marching.

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