Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira says Guyana continues to make significant strides towards a more inclusive and united society, crediting the country’s constitutional framework.

She made remarks during the Ethnic Relations Commission’s observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Held under the theme ‘Mobilising Political Will’, the event brought together leaders and stakeholders committed to strengthening national unity.

Minister Teixeira acknowledged that while the country has avoided deep conflict seen elsewhere, more work is needed. She pointed to key constitutional reforms between 1999 and 2001 which explicitly prohibited discrimination.

“But that is a powerful part of the Constitution that doesn’t only say that we don’t like discrimination, it says it’s prohibited. It’s prohibited in the Constitution, it’s prohibited in the courts of Guyana,” she said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission, Shaikh Moeenul Hack, reminded that harmony is not automatic but must be deliberately nurtured and protected in every space.

“The mandate of the Ethnic Relations Commission is rooted in this very principle. Our work is to ensure the diversity remains a unifying force, not a dividing one,” he said.

Amid concerns over rising racial hostility, particularly on social media, the Ethnic Relations Commission
continues to promote harmony through school-based harmony clubs and extensive community
engagement.