Op-Ed: We will not be led astray by ‘handful of foul spirited persons’ who despise progress

By Gail Teixeira

Racism, racial hostility, ethnocentrism or any other form of discrimination based on our diversity has no place in Guyana.

The Constitution of Guyana, which is the supreme law of our land clearly lays out the responsibility of every person in Guyana to eliminate discriminatory distinctions (Article 33) and to honour, respect and appreciate the diverse cultural strains which enrich our society (Article 34). The constitution even goes further in Article 149 to prohibit discrimination by stating that no law shall make any provision that is discriminatory either of itself or in its effect, and that no person shall be treated in a discriminatory manner.

Every person in Guyana is entitled to the same fundamental human rights laid out in our constitution, regardless of ethnicity, religion, sex, class or any other characteristic. The PPP/C Government of Guyana has always led efforts to promote equal rights, provide equal opportunity and ensure eq - uitable access to essential services and goods for all our people.

We ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination decades ago and still submit reports to the United Nations to ensure that our stories are recorded, and our country is afforded the respect it deserves for being one of the most diverse and tolerant counties in this part of the world. We must appreciate that the Convention against Racism is afforded status of Supreme Law as it is integrated into the Guyanese Constitution through Article 154A.

Whether it is land and house-lot allocation; small business grants; GOAL and GROW Scholarships; WIIN training; improved free healthcare; advancements in universal nursery and primary education and soon to be achieved in secondary education; disability grants; public assistance; old age pension; or any of the initiatives being implemented by this government. A simple analysis of any of these programmes will show that Guyanese of all ethnicities and identities are benefitting. We are a government committed to ensuring inclusion and diversity at the core of all that we do.

Further, Government has led the process to re-constitute the Ethnic Relations Commission which is a constitutional body elected through an inclusive and participatory process. This process is convened by the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments of the National