Prof John La Guerre says the Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) is an inexpensive avenue for aggrieved people to seek redress. The EOC was a direct result of the Equal Opportunity Act (2000), passed in Parliament in July 2008, after a ruling from the Privy Council forcing the Government to proclaim the Act. It was proposed by the United National Congress when it was in Government. During a telephone interview yesterday, La Guerre, chairman of the EOC said: "I think people should be gratified to know there is an appointed body to investigate their grievances by having an institution like this. "There is now a place in Trinidad where people can have their grievances aired and resolved free of charge, giving a special appeal to Trinidadians," he said. "The judicial arrangements can prove to be sometimes very expensive."
La Guerre said the EOC had received about 40 complaints since 2008 and although it was not 100 per cent functional there were already qualified staff on board to deal with the issues. Among the qualified staff were lawyers, social investigators, accounting and clerical personnel. Mediators are expected to come on board soon, La Guerre said. Among the requirements for lodging a complaint were completing a detailed form about the nature of the alleged discrimination, when it occurred, supporting evidence and contact information about the other party. Complainants should note that a complaint must be lodged within six months from the alleged date of discrimination. La Guerre said an investigator would be assigned to a complaint and parties would subsequently be contacted to reach a resolution.
Working side by side with the EOC is the Equal Opportunity Tribunal, which is a court of law. La Guerre said if a matter cannot be resolved within the commission it would be sent to the EOT, but the EOC would have no further involvement, only if called upon to assist. He anticipates many rational discussions on ethnic, cultural, age and gender issues as time goes by. La Guerre said: "I think it will contribute to greater discussions about those issues." He added that it should contribute to the overall enhancement of national effort and productivity in society as a whole. The Prof Emeritus said an office is soon expected to be established in Tobago and the EOC will be embarking on an education campaign to inform the public of the benefits derived from the EOC.
?Forms of discrimination
1. Discrimination on the grounds of status, whereby a person can be treated unfairly due to some form of stereotyping based on their religious, ethnic, racial or gender background.
2. Discrimination in the form of victimisation, whereby a person of a particular background can be treated unfairly because they have chosen to speak up, stand up for their rights, defend an idea or another person, or challenge existing practice or behaviours.
3. Discrimination through the use of offensive behaviour directed at an individual or group, where such a person or group is humiliated, insulted or intimidated in a public place purely on the basis of their race, ethnicity, origin, social status, appearance or other circumstance.