Dear Editor,
The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) was established with a noble mandate — to promote harmony, ensure equality among Guyana’s diverse peoples, and act as a neutral body against racial and ethnic discrimination. It is expected to uphold fairness, impartiality, and moral responsibility when addressing issues that threaten our national unity. However, recent events have cast serious doubt on the ERC’s ability to fulfill this mandate without bias. The contrasting treatment of two individuals who both made racially charged remarks is deeply troubling. One was swiftly prosecuted and sentenced to imprisonment, while the other was reportedly recommended for counseling. This stark difference in consequence raises a crucial question — is the ERC applying one standard for some and another for others?
The Guyanese public cannot ignore the blatant inconsistency in the ERC’s actions. When justice appears selective, confidence in our national institutions erodes. The ERC must not be seen as a political tool or as an entity that exercises sympathy based on social, political, or ethnic alignment. Its role demands objectivity and fairness, not favouritism.
We cannot build “One Guyana” on foundations of unequal treatment. The ERC must reflect on its decisions, uphold its true purpose, and reassure the people of Guyana that its operations are guided by integrity, not influence.