UN Rapporteur here to observe, not pronounce on race-related problems
Shirley Thomas
Guyana Chronicle
July 19, 2003
From left to right: Ms Nnke Garnette of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;Dr. Duoduo Diène, UN Rapporteur on Racism; Mr. Daniel D. Atchèbro - Human Rights Officer, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; Mr. Keith Lowenfield - Chief Elections Officer (Ag); Dr. Steve Surujbally - Chairman, GECOM; and GECOM Commissioners: Mr. Haslyn Parris; Mr. Mahmood Shaw and Mr. Keshav Mangal.
From left to right: Ms Nnke Garnette of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;Dr. Duoduo Diène, UN Rapporteur on Racism; Mr. Daniel D. Atchèbro - Human Rights Officer, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; Mr. Keith Lowenfield - Chief Elections Officer (Ag); Dr. Steve Surujbally - Chairman, GECOM; and GECOM Commissioners: Mr. Haslyn Parris; Mr. Mahmood Shaw and Mr. Keshav Mangal.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Racism, Dr. Duoduo Diène, has assured stakeholders that he is in Guyana on an information gathering exercise, and not to denounce or criticize any governmental or non-governmental organization regarding problems of racial discrimination, xenophobia and race-related intolerance in Guyana.
This assurance was given on Tuesday when Dr. Diène met with a high level team of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), headed by Dr. Steve Surujbally, Chairman of the Commission. The meeting took place in GECOM’s Boardroom.
Dr. Diène told the GECOM team that there was the perception that the issue of racial discrimination was compounded by violence, and sought the views of the Commission as a principal actor in Guyana’s democratic process.
Issues discussed during the meeting included the role that GECOM can play in diffusing tensions before, during and after elections; the autonomy and authority of the Commission, and how the Commission could influence the evolution of sound community relationships as a key factor in addressing race relations. Additionally, the media was identified as one of the main public facilities with the principal responsilbility of promoting racial harmony.
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Diène emphasized that his role in Guyana was not to act as a judge or tribunal, but rather to engage in discussions to get a clear understanding relevant to occurrences of racial discrimination and xenophobia with a view to assisting with solutions to such problems. He assured the GECOM team that the meeting would greatly aid the preparation of his mandated report for the United Nations.
Dr. Diène was accompanied at the meeting by Mr. Daniel D. Atchèbro, Human Rights Officer, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Ms. Nnke Garnette of the Ministry of Foreign Affaairs. The GEOCOM team included Commissioners: Dr. Keshav Mangal; Mr. Haslyn Parris; Mr. Mahmood Shaw; and Mr. Keith Lowenfield - Chief Elections Officer (Acting).