The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has launched a national dialogue aimed at strengthening ethnic harmony as Guyana marks 60 years of independence, with discussions expected to produce recommendations to shape future policies on race relations and social cohesion.
The symposium, held under the theme “Guyana at 60: Unity, Diversity and the Path Forward,” brought together government and opposition representatives, the diplomatic corps, civil society, faith-based organisations, academia, youth leaders and international partners to reflect on the country’s progress since independence.
ERC Chairman Sheikh Moeenul Hack said the symposium represented a major national engagement designed to examine the country’s achievements and the challenges that remain.
“The Ethnic Relations Commission is bound by a sacred, unifying constitutional mandate to foster harmony, promote the elimination of discrimination, nurture tolerance and mutual respect among all our communities and strengthen the bonds of peace among our diverse peoples,” Hack said.
Participants were encouraged to complete questionnaires that would be compiled into an evidence-based report containing recommendations for submission to the National Assembly.
Panel discussions during the day explored the evolution of race and ethnic relations over the past 60 years, the role of education in promoting inclusion, and strategies for strengthening trust among Guyana’s diverse communities.
Opposition Chief Whip Tabitha Sarabo-Halley said the anniversary offered an opportunity for honest reflection.
“As we celebrate 60 years of Independence, it is fitting that we ask ourselves a simple but uncomfortable question: How far have we truly come?” she said.
While acknowledging that Guyanese today interacted more freely across ethnic lines than in previous decades, Sarabo-Halley said progress alone was not enough and stressed the need for every community to feel included in the country’s development.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, also addressed the symposium, highlighting Guyana’s transformation over six decades and stressing that development must be accompanied by efforts to strengthen unity and equal opportunity.
United Nations Resident Coordinator Jean Njeri Kamau said diversity should be embraced as a strength rather than a source of division.
“The question is not whether differences exist; difference is a fact of life. The real question is whether diversity becomes a source of division or a source of strength,” Kamau said, citing the experiences of Kenya and Canada in building successful multicultural societies through sustained dialogue and trusted institutions.
She outlined five priorities for Guyana, including expanding interaction across communities, investing in civic education, strengthening public dialogue to counter misinformation, building trusted institutions, and fostering a shared national vision around diversity.
Kamau reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting Guyana through its next regional cooperation framework, which places emphasis on social cohesion, inclusion and human rights.
The symposium forms part of Guyana’s Diamond Jubilee observances and is expected to produce recommendations aimed at strengthening ethnic harmony as the country enters its next 60 years of nationhood.
