Remarks by Jean Kamau, UN Resident Coordinator, at the Ethnic Relation Commission's National Symposium - Guyana at 60: Unity, Diversity and the Path Forward

Honourable Dr. Ashni Singh, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, 

Honourable Ministers, 

Hon. Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, Member of Parliament, 

Honourable Members of Parliament,

Colleagues of the Diplomatic Corps,

Shaikh Moeen ul Hack, Chairman, Commissioners, CEO and staff of the Ethnic Relations Commission,

Representatives of Civil Society, the Private Sector, Religious Organisations, Colleagues, members of the media.

Good morning.

It is an honour to join you today as we commemorate Guyana’s 60th Independence Anniversary and participate in this important national symposium convened by the Ethnic Relations Commission. 

Allow me to first congratulate the people of Guyana on this significant milestone. In fact, there were two milestones in 1966: gaining independence and joining the United Nations family. These two moments are deeply connected. They reflected a young nation stepping confidently onto the world stage, committed to peace, sovereignty, partnership and international cooperation. 

Sixty years later, we celebrate not only the remarkable progress Guyana has achieved, but also the resilience, determination, and aspirations of its people. This anniversary indeed offers an important opportunity to reflect on the journey that has brought the nation to where it is today, to recognize the challenges overcome, and to look ahead to the shared vision that will guide Guyana’s future development and prosperity, paving the way for future generations.

Unity and diversity are not merely ideals, they are essential ingredients for building peaceful, inclusive, and resilient societies. They remind us that nation-building is an ongoing process, one that requires commitment, dialogue, understanding, and a willingness to embrace differences while working toward a common future. I know that for Guyana, this is not a new process; rather, it is one that has been underway for decades. While its outcomes may not always be visible or evenly felt, it’s important to continue this work that will gradually build up society. 

The great question facing every diverse society is not whether people are different. Difference is a fact of life. The real question is whether diversity becomes a source of division or a source of strength. History shows that diversity alone does not determine a nation's future. What matters is whether societies create the institutions, opportunities and relationships that enable people of different backgrounds to live, work and prosper together.

Guyana’s strength lies in its diversity, in its multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-language and multi-religious society, which brings different perspectives, traditions, experiences and innovations that enrich national life and contribute to development. It is perhaps fitting that Guyana, the “Land of Many Waters” is also home to many peoples, cultures, faiths and traditions. Just as many rivers flow through a common landscape, so too do many histories, cultures and identities contribute to the story of this nation. 

Around the world, some of the most dynamic and resilient societies have drawn strength from their diversity. Diversity brings different perspectives, languages, cultural traditions, networks and ways of solving problems. When people from different backgrounds are able to contribute fully and equally to national life, diversity becomes an asset. It can strengthen innovation, deepen international connections, improve decision-making and help societies adapt to change.

However, diversity alone does not automatically create cohesion. Social cohesion is about the horizontal glue between us, the strength of relationships, trust, and solidarity among individuals and groups within a society. It is characterized by a shared sense of belonging, respect for diversity, equitable access to opportunities, meaningful participation in public life, and confidence in institutions. Cohesive societies are able to manage differences peacefully, reduce inequalities, and work collectively toward common goals while ensuring that no one is left behind.

At the United Nations, we firmly believe that inclusive and cohesive societies are stronger societies, more integrated, and more trusting of each other, and of governance institutions. When all people are able to participate fully in social, economic, cultural, and political life, regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, gender, disability, age, or socioeconomic status, countries are better positioned to achieve sustainable development, social stability, and peace.

Building trust between communities, addressing historical grievances, overcoming stereotypes, and strengthening social cohesion are long-term endeavors. Progress is often gradual and requires persistence, dialogue, and a willingness to listen to one another. This is not achieved overnight or sometimes not even within a decade. 

Many countries around the world have grappled and are still grappling with challenges related to ethnic relations, social tensions, conflict and national unity. While each country's history and context are unique, valuable lessons can be drawn from international experiences.

One such example is my home country, Kenya. Following the post-election violence of 2007–2008, which exposed deep ethnic divisions and resulted in significant loss of life and displacement, Kenya undertook a series of reforms aimed at strengthening national cohesion and preventing future conflict. These included constitutional reforms, the establishment of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, decentralization of governance through county governments, and sustained investments in dialogue, mediation, and civic education. While challenges remain, these efforts recognized that social cohesion requires both institutional safeguards and continuous engagement among communities.

In many societies, one of the most important questions is: Who are we as a nation? The answer is rarely uncontested. Different communities often remember history differently and may hold different aspirations for the future. Yet successful societies find ways to build a shared national story that is broad enough to include multiple identities, experiences and perspectives.

Successful diverse societies do not ask people to abandon their identities. Rather, they create a wider sense of belonging that exists alongside those identities. People can remain proud of their ancestry, culture, language, faith and traditions while also sharing a common commitment to their nation and its future.

Canada has pursued a different but equally instructive approach through multiculturalism. Rather than expecting communities to abandon their distinct identities, Canada has sought to create a framework in which different cultures, languages and traditions can flourish while participating in a shared democratic society. The lesson is that unity and diversity need not be competing goals.

While these countries differ greatly in history, geography and culture, they point toward a common lesson. Successful diverse societies do not emerge by accident. They require deliberate investment in inclusion, fairness, participation, dialogue and institutions that people trust. They also require a shared vision of the future that is larger than any one group or community.

The future is ultimately shaped by the choices made in the present. Every generation inherits a past it did not create, but each generation has the opportunity to shape the society it leaves behind. The challenge before all nations is not simply how to remember the past, but how to build a future in which every citizen feels they belong and can contribute.

Across the world, countries that have made meaningful progress in strengthening cohesion have done so by adopting affirmative measures and institutional reforms designed to correct historical and structural inequalities. These measures are about ensuring that all communities have a fair and meaningful opportunity to participate in national life.

While countries have adopted different approaches to address historical inequalities and strengthen inclusion, a common lesson is that all communities must have confidence that institutions are fair, responsive and accessible. Inclusive processes and equitable opportunities help build trust and strengthen national unity.

Process matters as much as outcome. Fair and transparent processes for decision-making, whether in governance, resource allocation, or representation, are essential for building trust between citizens and the state. When people see that systems are inclusive and responsive, confidence in institutions is strengthened and tensions are more effectively managed.

The International human rights framework is a useful tool in this regard, particularly the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). These landmark frameworks recognize that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance undermine human dignity, social cohesion, and sustainable development. They call on States and societies to promote equality, respect for diversity, inclusive participation, and equal access to opportunities for all persons, regardless of their race, ethnicity, descent, or national origin.

These principles are reflected in international commitments that seek to build peaceful, inclusive and just societies. Around the world, experience has shown that strong institutions, equal opportunity, respect for human rights and meaningful participation are among the most effective foundations for managing diversity constructively and preventing tensions from escalating.

Guyana’s continued engagement with the international human rights system reflects a foundation of cooperation and openness to dialogue.

The United Nations remains committed to supporting Guyana in this journey. As we develop the new United Nations Cooperation Framework for the Caribbean for 2027–2031, we continue to place strong emphasis on inclusion, equality, participation, human rights and social cohesion.

In Guyana, we are pleased to be working alongside the Ethnic Relations Commission and other national partners to promote dialogue, strengthen resilience against hate speech and discrimination, and support efforts that bring communities together around a shared vision for the future.

At the regional level, the United Nations and CARICOM have also committed to advancing prevention, inclusion and social resilience through the recently launched CARICOM–UN Framework for Action. This reflects a growing recognition that peaceful, cohesive and inclusive societies are essential foundations for sustainable development and prosperity.

The United Nations also recognizes the important role played by Constitutional mechanisms such as the Ethnic Relations Commission in fostering dialogue, promoting understanding, addressing grievances, and building bridges across communities. Spaces such as this symposium are essential for meaningful engagement and for shaping practical recommendations that advance social cohesion and national unity.

Ultimately, the work of strengthening ethnic relations is not the responsibility of any single institution. It belongs to all of us – government, political leaders, civil society, religious leaders, educators, businesses, communities and citizens. The question is not whether differences exist. The question is how we choose to engage with those differences and whether we can transform them into a source of collective strength.

As the United Nations Secretary-General has observed, our priority must be to build unity in an age of division.

Around the world, we see societies grappling with growing polarization, mistrust, racism, xenophobia and other forms of exclusion. These challenges remind us that unity cannot be taken for granted. It must be nurtured through dialogue, inclusion, education, opportunity and a shared commitment to the common good.

The strongest societies are those where every person's identity is respected, where all feel that they belong, and where citizens are bound together by shared civic values and a common vision for the future.

Guyana's diversity is not only reflected in its ethnic composition. It is reflected in the ways communities have contributed to the country's development, culture, traditions, economy and public life. The story of modern Guyana is one that has been shaped by many peoples, many journeys and many contributions. As the nation looks to the future, that diversity remains one of its greatest strengths.

As Guyana enters its seventh decade of Independence, allow me to suggest five practical lessons that emerge from the UN’s experience of diverse societies around the world.

First, continue to expand opportunities for meaningful interaction across communities, particularly among young people.

Second, investment in education that promotes understanding, respect and shared citizenship is key.

Third, strengthen public dialogue and civic space, which can also help to counter misinformation and disinformation and narratives that seek to divide or exclude or undermine cohesion.

Fourth, continue building institutions that are trusted, inclusive and accessible to all people.

And fifth, nurture a shared vision of Guyana’s future – one in which diversity is viewed not as a challenge to be managed but as a strength to be celebrated.

None of these actions can be achieved overnight. Yet history shows that societies which invest patiently in trust, inclusion and dialogue are better equipped to navigate differences peacefully and build lasting prosperity.

Guyana’s story is still being written. The next chapter will not be defined by ethnicity alone, but by the choices made today about the kind of society future generations will inherit. The opportunity before Guyana is not simply to manage diversity, but to harness it as a source of strength, creativity and national progress.

I thank you, and I wish you a meaningful, engaging, and successful symposium.