Opposition repeats call for National Action Plan to promote inclusion and equity, end discrimination

The Opposition, the A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) has flayed the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government for continuing to “deceitfully deny that its obsession with political domination and crony capitalism will perpetually foster racial and political conflict, and the discrimination, victimisation, and exclusion of citizens, communities, ethnic groups, the underprivileged class, civic society organizations, and other political parties.”

In a release, the coalition stated Afro-Guyanese citizens, communities, and entities have come under assault, as have the Indigenous People and Indo-Guyanese who support a party other than the PPP or come from the lower class.

The APNU+AFC has put the PPP Government on notice that they will continue the fight for racial unity, dignity, and equality and a new coalition government  will craft a multi-stakeholder NATIONAL ACTION PLAN on race relations, equality of opportunity, inclusion, and anti-discrimination.  “We see such a plan not only as a moral imperative, but also as a key driver of economic growth and social progress. When all Guyanese have the opportunity to reach their full potential, when all Guyanese feel respected and included, we all benefit from their contributions to society.”

Elements of the Plan are listed hereunder:

1. Boost the capability and impact of the Ethnic Relations Commission, the Public Procurement Commission, the Women and Gender Equality Commission, the Human Rights Commission, and the Indigenous Rights Commission — through increased funding, prompt appointments and re-appointments of commissioners, and the facilitating of international technical support. These agencies must become true change agents.
2. Implement Ethnic Impact Assessments as a requirement for every major government programme or policy. Such assessments must identify and mitigate/eliminate problems that may unduly (intentionally or unintentionally) create or exacerbate racial and other inequalities.
3. Revamp the Fiscal Transfer Act to (according to the Act itself) “provide for the formulation and implementation of objective criteria for the purpose of the allocation of resources to local democratic organs”, thereby reducing discrimination against communities regardless of their voting patterns or social profiles.
4. Create an equitable social protection system that is structured and professionalised. Delivery of benefits will be managed and manned by a modern public service, and not by party activists.
5. Introduce set-asides in government contract awards to reduce the uneven playing field caused by legacy and ongoing discrimination. Afro-Guyanese, Indigenous people, women, youths, and other under-represented groups must and will benefit. As we seek to be more inclusive in awarding contracts, the system will remain mostly competitive, and no one will be treated unfairly.
6. Increase transparency of government decisions and affairs. We will empower citizens with the right to know and the right to information by, among other ideas, revising and fully activating the Access to Information Act. Citizens will, for example, be able to monitor and scrutinize allocation of State resources and opportunities, such as land and permits.
7. Encourage more grassroot community efforts to foster race relations.
8. Introduce multi-ethnic studies in lower schools to educate students to be able to respectfully engage with diverse people, including those of different ethnicities, and to express pride in their own identity without denying the value and dignity of other people.
9. Fund and otherwise encourage academic research and national polling to guide policy making and to measure progress.
10. Implement all necessary measures to make our elections credible and acceptable.

These and other initiatives the coalition said could be accomplished within the present constitutional framework and if necessary take the lead on constitutional reform. “We are committed to working towards a fair and just society, where all Guyanese have equal access to economic opportunities and can live with dignity and respect regardless of their race and ethnicity and other differences.”