NEW YORK, USA

Speech of our Ambassador of Peace in Guyana 

 Sheikh Moeenul Hack

Draft statement to be delivered by Sheikh Moeenul Hack, Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission, at the thematic roundtable titled “Recognizing and Addressing Systemic and Structural Racism: A Data-Driven and Evidence-Based Approach”

1 June 2023

Chair,

The “One Guyana” approach seeks to ensure ethnic harmony and that no one is left behind. Accurate data is therefore critical to identifying disparities and whether systemic and structural racism exists. And to develop effective responses to achieve equality for all Guyanese of which over 30% are people of African descent.

In addition to periodic censuses, an evidence-based approach to addressing racism requires targeted measures.

This is why our Parliament established the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), a constitutional body mandated to promote the elimination of all forms of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, and to investigate complaints and provide redress as necessary. This body can recommend policies and progammes to the Parliament to address disparities.

Chair,

Yesterday, Mr. Darren Wade from IPADA-G made serious allegations, which in my capacity as Chair of the Ethnic Relations Commission, behooves me to respond.

In his accusation of racism, he said Guyana imposed visas on our Haitian brothers and sisters. The fact is, 12 of the 14 CARICOM countries require visas. Three (3) of these countries removed visa restrictions for Haitians then re-instated it, including Guyana in 2021. The CARICOM Secretary-General in the same year said there is growing evidence that Haitians are being trafficked. In Guyana’s case, a bi-partisan Parliamentary Committee found evidence that Haitians were being trafficked through Guyana to third countries. In 2021, 12 Haitians were rescued after being abandoned by traffickers in our forests.

Regarding Guyana giving preferential treatment to nationals of three Asian countries, and not Haitians. This is not so. The nationals of these countries also require ordinary visas to enter Guyana. As for the Court case, this was a deportation order that was quashed and the persons were ordered released. It was not about reinstating a visa-free regime.

We can only eliminate racism if we are willing to dialogue and work together.

We welcome international cooperation to share experiences and build capacity.

I thank you.