Thursday
July 17, 2003
UN Special Rapporteur on racism to visit
various parts of Guyana - To nsure a first-hand experience
of community relations in Guyana
His mandate will not be fulfilled without
acquiring direct experience of the way Guyanese relate to
each other, hence the United Nations Special Rapporteur on
racism and xenophobia DouDou Die’ne , who is in Guyana
at present, is expected to visit several communities in the
country.
These visits will serve to unfold for the Rapporteur, how
Guyanese interact with each other and his observations will
form part of the report he is expected to compile on the racial
situation in Guyana for the United Nations.
This disclosure was made by Head of the Presidential Secretariat
and Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon at his weekly post-Cabinet
Media briefing held at the Office of the President this morning.
The Administration invited the Rapporteur to Guyana sometime
ago to look into race relations. However, because of his unavailability;
the visit was planned for this week. He arrived in Guyana
on Sunday evening.
Die’ne paid a courtesy call on President Bharrat Jagdeo
and several other Government Officials at the Office of the
President yesterday afternoon. He was accompanied by the UN
Resident Representative Mr. Jan Sorensen and Daniel Atchebro
to the Office of the President.
Among those accompanying the President at the meeting were
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon, Deputy
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Hydar Ally, Minister
of Foreign Affairs Dr. Rudy Insanally, Minister of Culture,
Youth and Sport Ms. Gail Texiera, Minister of Amerindian Affairs
Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues, Public Service Minister Dr. Jennifer
Westford and Permanent Secretary within the Office of the
President Ms. Jennifer Webster.
The Government’s invitation, the UN Rapporteur said,
is a demonstration of commitment and will to have the country’s
race relations exposed to international scrutiny.
“Mr. Die’ne informed the President how well received
was the Government of Guyana’s willingness to entertain
the visit,” Dr. Luncheon said.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on racism and xenophobia
has been sent by the UN to compile “a most comprehensive
and objective assessment of the communities and race relationships
and also the drafting of recommendations that can help or
cultivate the solution which the Guyanese people will have
to find.”
Yesterday he met the various Government Ministers and representatives
of the People’s Progressive Party and today he is hoping
to meet members of the Parliamentary Opposition as well as
the Leader of the Opposition Robert Corbin.
Die’ne is also expected to meet social and other interest
groups before his departure on July 21, for Trinidad and Tobago
to execute a similar mission
.
Today, the Rapporteur will be delivering a special lecture
at the Foreign Services Institute.
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