GUYANA | Georgetown's Former Mayor Declares War on Guyana's Ethnic Relations Commission

Pt. Ubraj Narine launches scathing attack on ERC ahead of September elections, calls institution's credibility "straight to hell"

With Guyana's crucial September 1, 2025 general and regional elections looming, a political bombshell has exploded from an unexpected quarter. Pt. Ubraj Narine, former Mayor of Georgetown and decorated military veteran, has issued a blistering statement effectively declaring institutional war on the country's Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC).

The trigger? APNU's decision to abstain from signing the ERC's Code of Conduct for the upcoming elections—a move Narine not only endorses but champions as "a necessary act of resistance against an institution that has repeatedly failed to uphold its constitutional mandate."

A Pattern of Alleged Inaction

Narine's 500-word statement reads like a prosecutor's closing argument, methodically building a case against the ERC through a series of specific incidents where he alleges the commission remained silent despite clear provocations.

The former mayor cites the controversial "Mocha issue," where he claims Afro-Guyanese were "systematically sidelined from economic opportunities." He references a sitting Vice President's alleged use of the term "low life" toward a woman, and most provocatively, accuses the President of making "disparaging remarks toward sacred Hindu culture"—incidents that, according to Narine, should have triggered immediate ERC investigation.

Perhaps most damning is his accusation regarding police conduct: "When police officers blatantly disrespected and assaulted ordinary citizens, disproportionately affecting Afro-Guyanese communities, the ERC never found it necessary to even issue a statement—let alone launch an investigation."

The Institutional Credibility Crisis

What makes Narine's statement particularly significant is his institutional pedigree. As a former Staff Sergeant in the Guyana Defence Force, Justice of the Peace, and recipient of the Cacique Crown of Honour Award, his credentials lend weight to accusations that might otherwise be dismissed as partisan positioning.

His central thesis—that the ERC has "transformed into a political instrument wielded by the ruling People's Progressive Party (PPP) to pacify dissent"—strikes at the heart of Guyana's democratic architecture. The ERC, established to promote ethnic harmony in a nation where race and politics remain inextricably linked, stands accused of becoming the very thing it was designed to prevent: a source of ethnic division.

Election Implications

The timing of this confrontation, mere weeks before crucial elections, raises the stakes considerably. APNU's refusal to sign the Code of Conduct, now backed by Narine's inflammatory rhetoric, threatens to delegitimize the ERC's role in monitoring electoral behavior.

"Until the ERC demonstrates the will to act without fear or favour, to hold all violators accountable regardless of political affiliation, and to function with transparency and independence, it does not deserve the respect or cooperation of any serious political actor," Narine declared.

This position effectively challenges the institutional framework governing Guyana's electoral process. If opposition parties can credibly argue that oversight bodies are compromised, it undermines public confidence in the entire electoral system.

The Broader Question

Narine's statement, culminating in his declaration that the ERC "can go exactly where it has already consigned its credibility—straight to hell," represents more than political theater. It signals a complete breakdown in institutional trust that could have lasting implications for Guyana's democracy.

Whether Narine's specific accusations hold up to scrutiny remains to be seen. What's undeniable is that a respected former military officer and mayor has publicly declared war on a constitutional body designed to maintain ethnic peace. In a country where ethnic tensions have historically shaped political outcomes, such declarations cannot be dismissed as mere campaign rhetoric.

The ERC's Measured Response

In stark contrast to Narine's inflammatory rhetoric, the ERC's response has been notably restrained and institutional in tone. Following Tuesday's Code of Conduct signing ceremony at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Chairman Shaikh Moeenul Hack reaffirmed the commission's constitutional mandate to promote ethnic harmony, safeguard national unity, and support peaceful democratic processes.

"Let us also reaffirm that the political space in Guyana must never be reduced to hostility or intimidation. It must remain one of dignity, responsibility, and decency, where all citizens feel safe to participate and express themselves without fear," Hack stated during the ceremony.

The commission has notably refrained from directly engaging with Narine's specific accusations or the broader institutional critique leveled by APNU leader Aubrey Norton, who declared the ERC "biased" and accused it of selective enforcement.

An Olive Branch Extended

Rather than escalating the confrontation, the ERC announced it would "keep the opportunity open for the absent parties to sign the Code at the Commission's Georgetown office." This diplomatic approach suggests an institution attempting to maintain its role above the political fray, despite the withering criticism.

"We will extend the period of signing. So the opportunity still avails for the remaining two political parties to come to the ERC and sign the code of conduct," Chairman Hack stated, though no firm deadline has been established.

The Silence That Speaks

What's perhaps most telling about the ERC's response is what it hasn't addressed. None of Narine's specific allegations—from the Mocha issue to presidential remarks about Hindu culture—have been directly refuted or explained. The commission's public statements have focused entirely on procedural matters and general principles, avoiding any substantive engagement with the accusations of institutional bias.

This measured approach may reflect institutional restraint, but it also risks validating opposition claims that the ERC lacks the transparency and accountability necessary to address legitimate concerns about its conduct.

As Guyana heads toward its September 1 elections, the battle lines are clearly drawn. While four parties have signed the Code of Conduct, the two holdouts—APNU and the Forward Guyana Movement—represent a significant portion of the political spectrum that has effectively declared no confidence in the ERC's impartiality.

The question now is whether the commission's olive branch approach will restore institutional credibility, or whether Narine's declaration of war signals the beginning of a broader erosion of trust in Guyana's electoral oversight mechanisms.

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