The Ministry of Social Cohesion is more divisive than cohesive

Dear Editor, In a country like ours that is racially divided, the need for social cohesion is essential for long-lasting stability and growth. Long before the Ministry of Social Cohesion was established by the Granger administration, I had been a strong advocate for the promotion of social cohesion. Years ago while living in New York, I designed and printed thousands of bumper stickers with the words “My race does not matter… I’m Guyanese and proud of it.” These were brought to Guyana for distribution.

Historically, our two main ethnic groups have been divided by racial conflicts and mistrust for each other. So uniting our people will be nothing short of a herculean task that requires real commitment and dedication. It requires leadership which is perceived to be fair, objective, and which truly understands the importance trust plays in bringing these ethnic groups together. For this reason, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) was established under the PPP/C administration in 2003. It is a constitutional bi-partisan body established as an undertaking by the Herdmanston Accord and by Constitutional Amendment (#2) Act of 2000. Its members require a twothirds majority vote by Parliament to serve on that board.

It is intended to serve all Guyanese and persons living or working in Guyana, including those who believe they were discriminated against based on their ethnicity, and persons who believe others were discriminated against because of their ethnicity. It also has as its mandate the promotion of harmonious relations between the races and the power of sanction against persons who discriminate.

Unfortunately, this commission has been destroyed by the APNU, and is now dormant.

The establishment of a Ministry of Social Cohesion allows the Granger administration to secure recognition and grants through friendly international agencies to finance social cohesion programmes, and gives them the incentive to continue subverting the ERC.

The distribution of buses, bicycles and boots to aid schoolchildren could easily have been done through the Ministry of Education. Instead, taxpayers’ money is wasted on the establishment of a brand-new ministry. In a similar manner, the APNU coalition government used tens of millions of dollars allocated to the Ministry of Social Cohesion to travel throughout the hinterland to promote the local government elections, under the guise of promoting social cohesion.

This seems to be the sinister ploy behind the creation of the Ministry of Social Cohesion, and putting a hard-core member of the PNC faithful as the minister makes perfect sense. Ms Amna Ally is the worst choice to head that ministry. For in addition to her PNC activism, she lacks the personality and finesse to skilfully realize this objective. And so I often wonder if President Granger is really serious about social cohesion.

For social cohesion to work, we must be colour-blind in the way we see each other, not as Indian or African or Amerindian, but as fellow Guyanese. We must develop a higher level of tolerance for each other’s culture and religion. We must learn to respect each other’s views and opinions, moreso when we differ. We must also be made to feel that despite our differences in ethnicity, we all have equal opportunities to realise our God-given potential to better ourselves and families without being discriminated against. How this is achieved is the responsibility of the Ministry of

Social Cohesion. But to date, I’ve seen no evidence that the Minister of Social Cohesion has the ability to achieve this goal. Members of Parliament are yet to see the “5year strategic plan” that Minister Ally keeps promising to produce. Time is running out.

I am very concerned with the lack of decorum displayed in our National Assemble by some parliamentarians. I am constantly reminded that this is part of the Westminster system inherited by the British. But I believe all parliamentarians have a civic responsibility to conduct themselves in ways they would like to be perceived by the Guyanese public, who now have access to live streaming of procedures in the House. Above all, the Minister of Social Cohesion should be most concerned about the image she portrays to the public at large. The very nature of her job depends on it.

In Parliament, Minister Amna Ally is not only the government’s Chief Whip, but she has designated herself Heckler-in-Chief as well. She seems to have cultivated the habit of interrupting speakers on the opposition side with her sarcastic banter which can be abusive and insensitive at times, counterproductive to what she needs to achieve as Minister of Social Cohesion. Last Wednesday during the 2017 Budget presentation, the Minister of Social Cohesion referred to PPP Member of Parliament Alister Charlie from Region 9 as “stupid.” Upon hearing this, the former Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Ms Pauline Sukai took offence to this word being used to describe a fellow Amerindian, and a heated exchange ensued which attracted the attention of the Speaker. Dr Barton Scotland then enquired of Minister Ally whether in fact she had used that word (considered to be unparliamentary), and if she had, to withdraw it.

So what was the response of the Minister of Social Cohesion? She deliberately denied

having done so to the Speaker of the National Assembly. It was her ability to tell this lie with a straight face that prompted me to write this letter.

As a Member of Parliament, I have always shown respect to all my colleagues, including those on the government side, and including Amna Ally. But after this is published, I can expect some ‘tongue-lashing’ for having the courage to speak out against ineptitude and arrogance, the type that has made the Ministry of Social Cohesion more divisive than bringing people together. Yours faithfully, Harry Gill, MP