House to approve Ethnic Relations
Commission representation motion

By Miranda La Rose
Stabroek News
November 28, 2000

Christian, Hindu and Muslim religions, trade unions, private sector, youth and women's organisations will each nominate one representative to the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), if approved by a two-thirds majority, according to a motion tabled in the National Assembly.

The motion, tabled by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Reepu Daman Persaud on November 23, provided for the commission to consist of no less than five and no more than 15 members nominated by entities, by a consensual mechanism determined by the National Assembly. Non-voting members of the commission will be representatives of the Indigenous People's Commission, Gender Equality Commission, Commission for the Rights of the Child and the Human Rights Commission.

The motion also set out the consensual mechanism for selecting the representatives of the group of entities. This mechanism would require the clerk of the National Assembly to write to all the entities in each group inviting them to meet, on a day/date, time and place to be agreed by them, to determine their nominee (and one substitute who would replace the nominee on the ERC in the event that the nominee is no longer able to function) for membership. Where there was a recognised umbrella organisation for the group, the Clerk would be required to write to that organisation and copy his letter to each of the constituent entities within the group.

The nominee and substitute chosen by the group must be competent persons--able to contribute positively to the work of the ERC and committed to ensuring that it discharged all of its functions. They should have earned public respect and be of unquestioned and unblemished honesty and integrity.

The process/procedure used must be demonstrated to be unbiased and transparent. The nominee and substitute must have obtained the unquestioned support and acceptance of the entity nominating them as well as the entities within the group.

A deadline should be set by which time the clerk of the National Assembly would be formally notified of: the names and other requested particulars of the nominee; the process/procedure used for the selection of the nominee; the number of entities within the group which were properly represented when the nominee was selected; and a statement to the effect that the nominee was supported and accepted by the majority of entities within the group.

The organisations which comprise the various groups of entities were given as:
* Christianity--members of the Guyana Council of Churches (GCC)--the Alleluias Church, African Methodist Episcopalian, African Methodist Episcopalian (Zion), the Anglican Church of Guyana, the Church Of God, Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Guyana Congregational Union, Guyana Presbyterian Church, the Lutheran Church in Guyana, the Methodist Church in Guyana, Moravians, Outreach Ministries, Roman Catholics, the Salvation Army, Guyana Missionary Baptist;

* churches which are not members of the GCC--the Wesleyan Church, New Testament Church of God, Assemblies of God in Guyana, Christian Brethren Mission, Guyana Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, District Centre Church of the Nazarene, Full Gospel Ministries, and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Guyana;

Hinduism--the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Guyana Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, Guyana Pandits' Council, Guyana Maha Kali, Guyana Central and the Guyana Arya Pratinidhi Sabha; Islam--the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana, Guyana Islamic Trust, Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman and the Anjuman Hifazutal Islam;

Trade Unions--Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union, Guyana Teachers Union, Guyana Public Service Union, Guyana Labour Union, Printing Industry Allied Workers Union, National Association Of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees, General Workers Union, Guyana Local Government Officers' Union, Guyana Mining, Metal and Workers Union, Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union, Association of Masters and Mistresses, National Union of Public Service Employees, Clerical and Commercial Workers Union, University of Guyana Workers' Union, Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union, Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union, Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers, National Mining and General Workers Union, and the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association;

Private sector-- Guyana Private Sector Commission, Guyana Manufacturers' Association, Guyana Forest Products Association, Guyana Gold And Diamond Miners Association, Association of Non-Traditional Exporters, Guyana Rice Millers and Exporters Development Association, Aircraft Owners Association of Guyana, Shipping Association of Guyana, the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Berbice Chamber of Commerce And Development Association, Linden Chamber of Industry And Commerce and the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industry;

Youth--Dharmic Naujawan (Dharmic Youth), National Youth Commission, Georgetown Youth Leaders Council, Progressive Youth Organisation, Guyana Youth and Student Movement, the United Force Youth Arm, Working People's Alliance Youth Organisation, Volunteer Youth Corps, Guyana Scouts Association, Young Men's Christian Association, Trades Union Congress Youth Movement, University of Guyana Students Society, Seventh Day Adventist Pathfinders, Muslim Youth Organisation, Guyana Congregational Young People's Union, Full Gospel Youth Fellowship, Girl Guides Association, Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association Under 20's Club, Moravian Youth Club, Young Women's Christian Association, Church of Christ Youth Group, Roman Catholic Youth office, Youth Ambassadors First Assembly of God, Ghandi Youth Organisation, Central Baptist Youth Fellowship, Youth Achievers, Guyana Junior Chamber and the Methodist Youth Club;

Women--National Commission On Women, Red Thread Women's Development Project, Young Women's Christian Association, Women's Progressive Organisation, National Congress of Women, Church Women United, Methodist Women League, TUC Women's Advisory Council, Anglican Mothers' Union, Women Across Differences, Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (Women), the United Force Women's Auxiliary, Salvation Army Home League, Congregational Women's Union, Lutheran Church Women, Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha's Mahila Mandalee, Federation of AME Women, Police Wives Association and the Guyana Federation of Women's Institutes.

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