The Chief Executive Officer of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), Renne Chester, yesterday said that the Commission has acknowledged the complaint by the Personal Assistant to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ean McPherson, over a racial slur directed at him while performing his duties at the National Assembly.
Chester told this newspaper that the ERC has received the letter of complaint from McPherson concerning a racial slur directed to him by APNU+AFC Member of Parliament, Maureen Philadelphia. He assured that “the matter as per our mandate will be investigated.” However, when the matter will be dealt with is still in question due to the commission currently operating without a commissioner.
When contacted by this newspaper, McPherson expressed gratitude that the ERC will be looking into the matter but stated that he had no further comment.
According to McPherson’s complaint, he detailed that on Wednesday, December 29, while in the corridors of the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Maureen Philadelphia directed a racial slur toward him. In the letter seen by this newspaper, he said that it is his opinion that the comment by the MP was used as a pejorative, hence he is asking that any or all sanctions provided by the country’s laws be brought to bear against Philadelphia.
In the video footage circulating on social media, which shows the events of the chaotic evening when the Natural Resource Fund Bill was controversially passed, McPherson can be seen holding on to the Speaker’s Mace after an attempt was made to seize it in the middle of the presentation of the Bill. McPherson could be seen face up on the floor of the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC) clasping the Mace tightly to his chest. Philadelphia, meanwhile could be observed standing over him and shouting the racial slur.
McPherson has since stated in his letter, that the purpose of his plea and complaint is for citizens to understand that “being of a particular race does not allow you to make racial epithets towards any person of that race or of any other race.”
