The new ERC is already stacked with PPP loyalists

Mar 24, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News editorial yesterday wished well for the new Ethnic Relations Commission. The need for a balance ERC cannot be over-emphasised. Already this body is stacked with PPP loyalists. Guyanese will have major challenges in having confidence in this important body. The editorial failed to acknowledge this unfortunate situation. Separating partisan views from that which is expected for a fair Commission will not happen. The ERC is a non-political constitutional body, it remains a mystery to see how this will be done. The nation hopes that the new ERC does not follow the narrative that PPP is the hero and the opposition the villain.

Not only was the process to obtain the Commissioners contrived for an outcome that will see PPP party supporters flooding the Commission, but now the selection of Chairman and Deputy Chairman is troubling. I read with much interest that a Chairman and Deputy Chairman were appointed. In addition, the news reported that two Commissioners were not present and will be sworn at a later time. The law states “The Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Ethnic Relations Commission shall be elected by and from the members of the Commission, other than the members mentioned in paragraph (1)(b), using such consensual mechanism as the Commission deems fit”. The law is clear on the composition. At the time of this decision, two Commissioners were not sworn in other words, they have not been given the legal instrument to act that will aid the proper constitution of the ERC. Therefore, the ERC should not have gone through and select persons for those positions. It also disenfranchised the two incoming Commissioners from contributing to this decision. But this is not all. NCN 6 o clock News reported that Mr. Charles Ogle was not present but he was selected as Deputy Chairman. Why would Commissioners vote in absentia for a candidate that is not even legally on the job? One can only imagine the corruption, confusion and illegal steps that will emerge from this body, if it continues to act in this manner.

From the President’s live page, opposition member. Ms. Tabitha Halley was present, and therefore I call upon her to present her take on this obvious hijacking of the ERC. In the same breath of praise, Kaieteur News is called to investigate this obvious and glaring misapplication of the law. The opposition Members of Parliament on this sub-committee have failed this nation by not adequately supervising the entire process; from selection of candidates to determine a Chairman.

Regards,

R. Singh

• ERC, Guyanese, loyalists, PPP, R. Singh