20060401 Skeldon Primary School, page 3/3
Report of Multi Stakeholder Forum in Skeldon
Date: Saturday, 1st April 2006
Region: 6 NDC:
Venue: Skeldon Primary School
Number of Participants: 6
Facilitators: Andrea Prescott, Mervyn Williams
Elements of a vision for Guyana
Employment
1. Equal employment opportunities for all; laws should be enacted to ensure this.
2. An end to unemployment, crime and drug peddling
3. Respect for Guyanese who are skilled and should be considered without prejudice in preference to foreigners.
Governance
4. A strong system of local government.
Social Cohesion
5. Equality in every sphere of national life.
6. Ethnic unity to avoid becoming prey to the old pattern of escalating crime during pre and post elections, racial tensions and violence.
7. A return to Guyana’s former greatness – a nation in which each person respects and tolerates the other.
Present local conflicts/areas of tension
Racial Tensions
1. At election time relations between some individuals of different ethnic groups become strained.
2. Racial slurs are used – groups distance themselves from each other (segregation)
3. Irresponsible statements by potential leaders lead to crime and cause distant relationships between the Indians and their Black neighbours.
4. Some are afraid to voice opinions because of fear of reprisals.
5. Fear for damages to property and of harm coming to family or relatives etc.
Political Culture
6. The politicians are concerned about power, not about the people’s welfare.
7. The main concern here is how to address this ‘elections’, problem so as to prevent violence and also to bury the hatchet once and for all.
Security, Law and Order
8. Law enforcement officers should uphold the laws.
Potential for violent conflict
Racial tension
1. As a result of rising racial tensions during the pre and post election period, and resultant strained relationships between the races (Indians and Blacks) there is the possibility of violence erupting.
2. The craving of political powers filters through to the communities and acts of violence are meted out to opposing groups.
3. Some Indians feel discriminated against, hence a feeling of insecurity; Blacks also feel the same way.
Employment
4. Equal employment opportunities for everyone in all spheres of the society.
5. The question of unemployment needs to be addressed.
Democracy and Governance
6. Community leaders, teachers, supervisors, and police to fulfill their social responsibilities in partnership so as to more efficiently control and demonstrate good governance.
Crime
7. Drugs: the use of drugs is on the increase and this is affecting the crime rate.
Concrete commitments on ideas towards overcoming challenges.
Security, Law and Order
1. To improve their efficiency police officers/law enforcement groups should be given the opportunity to elevate themselves educationally e.g. courses at UG, or foreign courses, etc.
2. Police should be constantly sent on courses to upgrade their academic abilities for greater job performance.
3. The community should play a vital role in calling for justice (they do not trust the police)
4. There should be a civic forum (constitutional) for complaints so that citizens can feel that they receive justice.
Public Education
5. There should be more forums to educate citizens about their rights and about the civil laws etc.
6. There should be religious (moral and ethical) education in schools.
Public Administration
7. Public servants to be sent on courses or have more in-house training to improve their public relation skills (handling of members of the public)
Political Culture and Governance
8. Public education by the ERC to address conflict during pre/post election period.
9. ERC should bring political leaders together to dialogue about improving relations among groups and in the political arena, and to respect the outcome of elections.
10. Address the constitutional framework that exists, make local governance stronger.
11. The opportunity should address the issues of their constituencies.
12. Discussions should center on the imperatives of shared governance, issues of power and the power of the ruling governance (how much power is too much power)
13. Political leaders should act more responsibly at election time in order to prevent the eruption of violence; they should consider all groups so no one feels discriminated against.
14. There is need for a social/political party/group to cut across all racial divisions, one that is impartial and able to embrace all groups/parties in the country.
15. No governing party should serve for more than two terms.
Racial Tensions
16. Religious leaders should play a more sustained and meaningful role in society.
17. Address the insecurity of Africans, real or perceived, shared governance may be the solution.