The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) participated in the Ministerial Dialogue and Inter Religious Forum convened by FIDELA, the Interreligious Forum of the Americas (Foro Interreligioso de las Américas), held in Panama City, Panama, on June 18 and 19, 2026.
The forum brought together Ministers of Government and senior Religious Leaders from across the member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) for a rare and timely exchange on the issues shaping religious life in the Hemisphere. Discussions centred on religious affairs, freedom of religion and worship, interfaith collaboration, the protection of human rights, and the mechanisms by which states and faith communities can work together to confront intolerance and safeguard the freedom of religious practice.
Representing Guyana were two Commissioners of the ERC, Pandit Krishn Sharma and Reverend Rodwell Porter, whose participation reflected both the Commission’s standing as a constitutional body and the religious diversity that is embedded in its very composition.
Reflecting on the engagement, the Commissioners noted that it was both an honour and a blessing to take part in such a timely event. “Today, across the world, achieving real and true inner peace and exercising tolerance is a great challenge. The brainstorming, presentations and conversations have truly enhanced and widened the scope on religious tolerance and freedom of religious practice and suggested mechanisms to curb intolerance and enable freedom in this regard,” both Commissioners posited in joint remarks.
The participation aligns directly with the ERC’s constitutional mandate as it is charged with, inter alia, promoting ethnic harmony and good relations among all Guyanese, and encouraging respect for and observance of the country’s religious diversity.
In keeping with that mandate, the Commission’s own membership includes representatives of Guyana’s principal religious traditions. The dialogue in Panama offered an opportunity to test and enrich the Commission’s work against the experience of peer nations across the Americas, and to bring home insights that can strengthen interfaith understanding and social cohesion in Guyana.
The ERC extends its sincere thanks to FIDELA for the opportunity to participate and looks forward to deepening regional cooperation on religious freedom, interfaith collaboration and human rights in the future.
