ERC Charges Seven With Racism, Commissioner Roshan Khan Not Charged, Massive Double Standard

Seven persons were charged with stoking racism during the period of December 2020 to January 2021 by the Ethnic Relations Commission, (ERC), five of which pleaded guilty and have been fined.

Those who pleaded guilty and were fined are John Gobin, Lashonna Chester, Stacy Smartt, Glynis Gibson, and Tiffany Greene, the other two defendants Surendrapaul Rampersaud and Steve Anthony Barakat pleaded not guilty and both are scheduled to return to court in March 2021.

Many critics have grown increasingly concerned over the actions of the ERC due to their innate ability to ignore prejudice and racism coming from their own camp and government officials. In September 2020 social media exploded as commissioner of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) Mr. Roshan Khan allegedly spewed his own racist comments in a tense racist environment throughout Guyana.

Khan stated, “Indians in Berbice need to create their watch and protection groups, equipped with batons and sticks for self defence only.”

Khan admonished that only “Indians” should take up arms in the multi-ethnic and multicultural town of Berbice during a time of civil unrest, he then further began to spread unverified statements that one ethnic group (Indians) were being raped which also was proven to be false statements.

Mr Roshan Khan remains a commissioner at the ERC and no known punishment or case was brought before him to this date.

The charges for the seven individuals were filed under the Racial Hostility Act and for causing racial or ethnic violence or hatred under the Representation of the People Act.