Parliament approves race relations commission bill
By Wendella Davidson
THOSE who are discriminated against because of their race will soon have a commission which will address their claims. This is as a result of the unanimous passage yesterday of the Constitution (Amendment) (No 2) Bill 2000 which provides for the establishment of an Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC). Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Reepu Daman Persaud, who successfully piloted the bill through its final reading in the National Assembly said he expects "within a matter of days" to present the measure to President Bharrat Jagdeo for it to become law. Approval of the bill which had the support of the four political parties in the House, was delayed last week because of uncertainty over whether this required a two-thirds majority vote in the National Assembly. But yesterday it took minutes for the 45 members from the government and opposition benches present to vote in favour of the legislation. During the parliamentary discussions last week, the bill was described as a "landmark development for Guyana into a new legislative culture". It was also hailed as "an important component of the Constitution" and "the most important piece of legislation that has come out of Guyana as a multi-ethnic society to extend and act as an umbrella to security for all the people of all ethnicities in Guyana." The bill makes provision for: ** the commission to be of not less than five nor more than 15 members nominated by entities, by a consensual mechanism determined by the National Assembly, including entities, representatives of religious bodies, the labour movement, the business sector, youth and women, after the entities are determined by the votes of not less than two thirds of all elected members of the National Assembly. ** The ERC shall establish a secretariat comprising its officers and employees. ** The ERC shall appoint a Chief Executive Officer who shall serve as Secretary, and such other officers and employees as may be necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions, on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Commission, save that the remuneration of the officers and employees shall be subject to the approval of the National Assembly. ** Parliament may by law provide for the establishment of an Ethnic Relations Commission Tribunal. Importantly too, the ERC will ** provide for equality of opportunity between persons of different ethnic groups, and to promote harmony and good relations between such persons. ** Promote the elimination of all forms of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity. ** Discourage and prohibit persons, institutions, political parties and associations from indulging in, advocating or promoting discrimination or discriminatory practices on the grounds of ethnicity. ** Investigate complaints of racial discrimination and make recommendations on the measures to be taken if such complaints are valid, and where there is justification therefor refer matters to the Human Rights Commission or other relevant authorities for further action to be taken. Three motions were yesterday approved in the National Assembly - for the Consideration of Financial Paper No 2/2000; the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on Public Accounts for 1994, as piloted by Minister in the Office of the President responsible for Finance, Mr Saisnarine Kowlessar and the Review of Public Holidays, guided by Persaud. The main Opposition People's National Congress (PNC) did not support the holidays motion. Opposition and PNC Leader, Mr Desmond Hoyte declared his party was not going to have any part in the motion which called for the National Assembly to approve the establishment of a Special Select Committee to review public holidays constituted under the Public Holidays Act. Hoyte argued there were more important issues/crises, including floods, HIV/AIDS, territorial issues and chaos in the streets for the National Assembly to address. Speaking specifically about flooding, Hoyte said the government was instead of dealing with that issue handing out "cutlasses and files". When the motion was put to vote, 30 members voted for, 13 against with four abstentions, among them leader of The United Force, Mr Manzoor Nadir and the Alliance For Guyana representative, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine.
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