During the first day of the consideration of the 2024 estimates of capital and current expenditure, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, said there was a substantial increase in the staff for the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) last year. Teixeira said it moved from a modest 14 to a 31-member staff since March 2023.
The commissioners who were sworn in were,
Sheik Moeen ul Hack who was appointed Chairman, along with Pandit Krishna Deo Sharma, Norris Emanuel Witter, Dwayne Adams, Chandrowatie Sarran, Ashton Simon, Deon Dick, and Neaz Mohamend Subhan, Reverend Rodwell Porter, and Charles Ogle.
Responding to questions from Opposition Member of Parliament, Cathy Hughes about plans for a Tribunal supporting the ERC, and whether funds were allocated for it under the ERC’s budget, Teixeira offered detailed insights.
She delved into the tribunal’s relation to the ERC, assuring that its establishment would have no impact on the ERC budget. “In relation to your comment on the question on the tribunal. This would have no impact on the budget of the ERC as the Tribunal will be completely separate and has no relationship with ERC.
Further highlighting the Tribunal’s independence, she noted that its establishment is the role of the court, “And that will be set up by President, Dr. Irfaan Ali in terms of the judges (who will serve) on it,” Teixeira noted.
She added that the Tribunal will only require a budget once it is set up and once that happens it would only serve the ERC by dealing with whatever matters the commission submits for logical review. “But if or when the Tribunal is set up, it will have no impact on the ERC budget as it will be a completely independent body of the ERC,” she reaffirmed.
