Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), Shaikh Moeenul Hack, has issued a call for everyone to be involved in advancing the cause of people of African descent.
He made the appeal while delivering remarks at the United Nations Permanent Forum of People of African Descent, which is being held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 14 to 17 April.
“With a population comprising more than 30 per cent of people of African descent, Guyana continues to call for justice through reparations — justice as accountability for centuries of slavery, exploitation, and the negative legacy of colonialism. Reparations are also about recognition of the pain, the displacement, and the generational trauma inflicted by slavery. It is also about healing and reconciliation, which form the foundation for lasting peace. Our Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice outlines tangible steps forward. Among others, it calls for investment in public systems to address the long-term effects of structural underdevelopment and urges education reform and cultural renewal,” the ERC Chairman said.
In a statement issued earlier today, the ERC noted that it has consistently addressed complaints from all races and ethnicities in a fair and transparent manner, including those from African Guyanese.
The commission stated its strong belief that, to holistically address injustices such as reparations, the African community needs the support of all, regardless of ethnicity, to advocate for justice for the crimes of slavery imposed on the ancestors of African descent.
The commission also highlighted its ongoing efforts to prioritise African culture and issues, citing its participation in Emancipation observances, provision of training on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the development of a Glossary of Terms to eliminate the use of derogatory language towards African Guyanese and all other ethnic groups, among other initiatives.
Additionally, the commission reiterated that the call for reparations is not about charity, but about justice.
The forum is being hosted under the theme: “Africa and People of African Descent: United for Reparatory Justice in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
