AFC’s Cathy Hughes has no grounds for criticism of gov’t – Min McCoy

tell you how to undermine the government. There are many ways…undermine the government and continue to do so.” At the same forum, Hinds went further to call for Indian-owned businesses to be boycotted. He said, “They were enablers and they are enablers….it is your money that is spending on Regent Street that they does take and give to the PPP as contributions for elections so they can get into government… undermine the economic partners of the PPP.”

Prior to that, while addressing a small group of protestors at Victoria, East Coast Demerara in August 2021, Hinds said: “In whatever way you can undermine this (PPP/C) government. Undermine this government in whatever way you can. I can’t tell you how to do it, but ‘hint to Baniba mek Quashiba tek notice’ (Old African-Guyanese proverb meaning actions to hint something will result in awareness). Undermine this government!”

Despite the backlash over his statements, Hinds maintained his positions.

Chairperson

of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Cathy Hughes, has been lambasted for what has been described as her baseless criticism of government’s newly introduced electronic identification system.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, called out the former Minister of Public Telecommunications for her criticism of a legal process while reaping private benefits from government contracts during her time in office.

Recently, government signed a US$35.4 million contract with a German-based company, Veridos Identity Solutions, for the implementation of the national electronic Identification (ID) Card.

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, assured that the contract was signed in accordance with the local laws. Responding to criticism from the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), the senior finance minister emphasised that the claims made by the organisation have no basis, positing that, “The contract with Veridos was lawfully executed, with an internationally reputable group, and is intended to deliver a product that will transform citizen experience in Guyana with the introduction of the integrated electronic national identification card. Once introduced, the card will enable citizens to interact with all government agencies and many private sector entities using this single unique and secure identifier, and will vastly improve the efficiency of service delivery to citizens.”

Meanwhile, Minister McCoy reminded that this system will bring monumental benefits to Guyanese, taking the economy to new heights in terms of modernisation. The Minister highlighted that there are public reports with supporting evidence of the former minister’s private company receiving millions in contracts from government through her ministry. The statement reads, “There are many more corrupt deals in which she was implicated in.

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