Weekend Mirror 22-23 April 2023

APNU ‘barely’ manages to field candidates in less than half of LGE constituencies

PNCR-led Coalition working through ‘surrogate agencies’ to block Amerindian development – Jagdeo

LGE

offers opportunity to advance development grounded on vison, not division – Ali

The APA persists with distortion of facts to make itself relevant for the purpose of grant funding

Use of non-empirical data to paint Guyana, other developing countries as ‘corrupt’ exposes prejudices, biases – Teixeira

ICJ sets April 2024 as date for Venezuela to file countermemorial

ICJ sets April 2024 as date for Venezuela to file counter-memorial

TheInternational Court of Justice (ICJ) is gearing up to adjudicate upon the merits of Guyana’s case and has set April 8, 2024, as the time limit for the filing of a Counter-Memorial by Venezuela.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), in a 14 to one vote, ruled that it had jurisdiction to proceed to evaluate Guyana’s application with regards to the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award. President of the International Court of Justice, Judge Joan E. Donoghue read the Court’s judgement on April 6, 2023 at a sitting of the Court in Hague.

MOVE TO COURT

Under the United Nations Charter and the Court’s own rules, final judgments from the ICJ both on jurisdiction and the merits will be legally binding on Guyana and Venezuela, whether or not Venezuela participates in the proceedings.

Efforts over more than half-a-century, including a

four-year Mixed Commission (1966-1970), a twelve-year moratorium (1970-1982), a seven-year process of consultations on a means of settlement (1983-1990), and a twenty-seven-year Good Offices Process under the UN Secretary-General’s authority (1990-2017), all failed to end the border controversy.

The move to the ICJ was advanced there was no success with a further attempt, using the United Nations’ Good Offices process, to resolve the matter of Venezuela’s renewed claim to Guyana’s territory, the Essequibo County. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in 2015, charged that the signing of the 1966 Geneva Agreement rendered the 1899 Arbitral Award null and void.

On 30 January 2018, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, acting under the authority bestowed upon him by the Geneva Agreement, chose adjudication by the Court as the means for resolving the controversy with finality.

Guyana commenced proceedings before the Court on 29 March 2018 in accordance with the Secretary-General’s decision.

ICJ CASE

The Hague-based International Court of Justice last held public hearings on the question of the Court’s jurisdiction in the case concerning the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela) on June 30, 2020. The ICJ had postponed the long-anticipated hearing of the Guyana/Venezuela border dispute case that was scheduled to begin on March 23, 2020, citing the coronavirus pandemic.

Guyana is seeking to obtain from the Court a final and binding judgment that confirms that the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the location of the land boundary between then-British Guiana and Venezuela, remains valid and binding, and that Guyana’s Essequibo region belongs to Guyana, and not Venezuela.

Guyana took its case to the Court following the decision by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in January 2018, that the controversy between Guyana and Venezuela should be decided by the International Court of Justice. In taking his decision, the Secretary-General was exercising the power vested in him in the 1966 Geneva Agreement between Guyana, Venezuela and the United Kingdom to decide how the controversy should be settled.

In a shift in position, Venezuela has since opted to advance oral pleadings before the ICJ, with the first pleadings presented to the court on November 17, 2022.

The ICJ on December 18, 2020 delivered its Judgment in the case concerning the Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela) – relative to the question of the Court’s jurisdiction. The court ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear Guyana’s case seeking the validation of the 1899 arbitral award es-

tablishing the boundary with Venezuela. Venezuela did not take part in the proceedings. The judgment found that both Guyana and Venezuela had conferred authority on the UN Secretary General under Article 4, paragraph two of the February 17th 1966 Geneva Agreement. That agreement allowed the Secretary General to choose a means of settlement under Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations which included judicial settlement.

Guyana is represented in the case before the Court by: Sir Shridath Ramphal, OE, OCC, KC, Co-Agent and Counsel; Mr. Paul S. Reichler, Attorney-at-Law, Foley Hoag LLP, member of the Bars of the United States Supreme Court and the District of Columbia; Mr. Alain Pellet, Professor Emeritus of the University Paris Nanterre, former Chairman of the International Law Commission, member of the Institut de droit international; Professor Philippe Sands KC, Professor of International Law at Uni-

versity College London, 11 King’s Bench Walk, London; Mr. Payam Akhavan, LLM, SJD (Harvard University), Professor of International Law, Senior Fellow, Massey College, University, of Toronto, member of the Bar of New York and the Law Society of Ontario, member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration; Professor Pierre d’Argent, Professor ordinaire, Université Catholique de Louvain, member of the Institut de Droit International, Foley Hoag LLP, member of the Bar of Brussels; Ms. Christina L. Beharry, Foley Hoag LLP, member of the Bars of the District of Columbia, the State of New York, England and Wales, and the Law Society of Ontario; Mr. Edward Craven, Barrister, Matrix Chambers, London; Mr. Juan Pablo Hugues Arthur, Foley Hoag LLP, member of the Bar of the State of New York; and Ms. Isabella F. Uria, Attorney –at-Law, Foley Hoag LLP, member of the Bar of the District of Columbia.

Use of non-empirical data to paint Guyana, other developing countries as ‘corrupt’ exposes prejudices, biases – Teixeira

Reporting by the international media paint

Caribbean countries as corrupt, according to Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, who highlighted the inaccuracies of the global index used to measure corruption in Caribbean countries, the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

And she stressed that Guyana and countries in the Caribbean must push back against the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which has painted the region as a “haven for corruption”.

Teixeira said, “The Caribbean region keeps getting notoriety in the international media for [being] havens of corruption and the number of articles are showing that we have a massive corruption in the Caribbean islands, we have to be offended by that as Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries…for me this reflects prejudices and biases against the developing world.”

The minister identified empirical data as the only

credible source recognised by Guyana and expressed the importance of Caribbean countries conducting more of their own research, and writing their own stories.

She expanded on this point, noting that these indices give numerous amounts of power to a small number of persons in evaluating an entire country.

Teixeira said, “I, as a Guyanese and Member of the Government, we do not accept TI’s assessment of us. It is non-empirical, non-scientific and therefore we do not feel it is valued that and an organization can have two or three unnamed persons in a country evaluate your country and put your country on a scale globally. That gives two or three people an erroneous amount of power that they weren’t given by the electorate…

“…how is it that the CPI (Corruption Perception Index) of the TI (Transparency International) points out that the southern part of the world is more corrupt than the others? Isn’t that rather coincidental? For me, this is a reflection of prejudices and

biases against persons in the developing world.

“In the Caribbean, we have to find a way to deal with the smallness and the uniqueness of some of our countries. We also need to strengthen our institutions, if we want to make a good forward movement to reduce corruption.”

Teixeira also stressed that anti-corruption measures have the potential to also support the strengthening of democratic institutions. The Minister said, “Strong democratic institutions or an efficient professional mandate in accordance with the constitution creates less opportunities for corruption, including equitable distribution of goods and service… without [persons having the need to offer] something under the table.”

According to her, a key aspect of strengthening democratic institutions, is engaging directly with the people, ensuring that they are knowledgeable of the anti-corruption measures being taken, while also garnering their views on challenges faced. “We have to look

at what kind of interactions, interventions [and] innovations to reward and to recognise community reporters. I think we need citizen anti-corruption reporters to actually give that credibility and importance,” Teixeira said.

The parliamentary affairs minister noted that following the identification of major sources of corruption, relevant legislative measures should be put in place to strengthen the country’s response.

The minister was at the time speaking during a

session at the 9th Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies (CCAICACB) being hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

The forum, held under the theme, ‘Factors that impact Anti-Corruption efforts in the Region’, saw intense discussions on the role played by a country’s policies, laws, people, and institutions in advancing this charge. Further, the forum identified key mea -

sures on the anti-corruption agenda, such as deepening connections with communities and civil society and increasing the number of research activities or projects on understanding various anti-corruption initiatives in each country.

The 9th Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies (CCAICACB), was hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, from Monday to Friday (April 17-21, 2023).

Stronger together inspite of development’s detractors

ThePNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition has been called on repeatedly to drop racism as a tool and get on board with a national development agenda – all in the interest of all Guyanese across the entire country.

However, as evidenced on Nomination Day, Monday, 17 April 2023, the PNCR-led Coalition, under the stewardship of Aubrey Norton, continues to ignore what is undoubtedly a positive call to action.

The PPP/C’s Nomination Day activities definitively showcased, again, the fact that it is Guyana’s only multi-racial political party in Guyana, which has the capacity to draw support from across the nation, regardless of class, race, gender, religion or any other differentiating factor. This was evidenced by the number of persons who crossed over from the Parliamentary Opposition to support the PPP/C. Crossover support from the PNCR-led Coalition in Georgetown, for example, was seen when former Mayor, Patricia Chase-Green, and City Councillor, Tricia Richards, made clear their support for the PPP/C. In response PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, stressed that all Guyanese are welcome to the PPP/C, who said: “We are demonstrating that the way forward, the lasting way forward, is for all our people to work together, regardless of our race….to the new people joining our family, you will see we welcome you and we work together to move our country and people forward.”

Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Norton’s camp, which resorted to attacks on Afro-Guyanese comrades who made a public showing of their support for the PPP/C, particularly those who crossed over from the Opposition. It would seem that even with losing support, the PNCRled Coalition is bent on doubling down on its divisive rhetoric, unable to envision the big picture – a unified Guyana that support the development and progress of all Guyanese.

PPP Executive, Gail Teixeira, in comments on this issue poignantly remarked that the PNCR-led Coalition is “loyally stuck” to a history of division. She had said: “At a time when we are taking the trajectory of our country forward; when we are seeing transformation…all of this is taking place and all you can do is drag it down to race. That is the only flag you have. The only flag you wave is race….the Coalition has stuck loyally to your history from 1954 and onwards - of divide and rule in Guyana. That is unfortunate. I don’t accept that the youth don’t know about these things. They are not obtuse… whether the PNC/ RIG/ APNU/ AFC comes to term with past and steps on the road to national unity, you will be found, if you don’t join, left alone….you have a choice.”

Regardless the challenges, as Guyanese, we must continue to keep the big picture in view – the collective prosperity of our people and for future generations.

PPP Executive and President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Monday, 17 April 2023, stressed that: “We are committed to a unified purpose, which is to bring prosperity to all our people across Guyana. We have to keep people are the centre of our purpose. Once we do that, we will demonstrate that our commitment is to the people of this country, the development of this country, the advancement of this country….to all the new faces who have joined us, we say welcome…you are part of a movement, a national movement to develop our country… you have joined us so we can send a stronger message, this is a national party representing every single strata of Guyanese society. To our detractors, our message is that we have taken a stand in the interest of our communities. In stand for Guyana, for each other, for unity, Guyana will never lose.”

These words offer our people clarity on where we are headed as a country and provide an assurance that we have been, and we are ‘Stronger Together’.

The Office of the Vice President has taken note of the press release issued by the Amerindian Peoples’ Association (APA), dated April 15, 2023, regarding APA’s Complaint to the Architecture for REDD+ Transaction Secretariat (the certifying body for Guyana’s carbon programme), to suspend the issuance of carbon credits to Guyana and, therefore, future payments to Amerindian villages and local communities.

At the recently held Press Conference by the Hon. Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the Guyanese public was informed of the complaint that was issued, in secret, by the APA, which recommended that the ART Secretariat suspends all future issuances of credits.

The Office of the Vice President invites the public to note the letter to the editor from Toshao Derrick John, Chairman of the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC), published in today’s edition of Stabroek News. The NTC Chairman stated unequivocally, that the APA did not inform or consult with indigenous villages, the National Toshaos Council, or any representative group of the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana. This violates the principles of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) – including the principle that villages and communities should be free to give or refuse their consent on matters which impact on them, through their own village-led processes.

The Office of the Vice President reiterates that political neutrality is a virtue that the APA cannot claim. As a non-governmental organization, the APA's members and leadership are free to engage in partisan politics, including standing for election. However, when purporting to represent non-partisan interests, it is important to declare relevant political allegiances to ensure transparency, and uphold credibility. It is therefore relevant to point out that leading members of the APA are - and have been - politically active, including the Executive Director of the APA, Ms Jean La Rose, who was the Deputy Representative of the list of political party candidates of the PNCRled APNU+AFC Coalition, which was in government between 2015 and 2020. Ms La Rose was a leading candidate within the PNCR-led Coalition’s list in the 2015 elections, and while she failed to win a seat in the National Assembly, the then-President, David Granger, appointed her to a senior Board position within his government. This should be declared as it has bearing on her commentary about public policy under various administrations.

The APA is well aware that every report of the ART TREES process is publicly available for perusal. The APA’s complaint refers to the structure of the Verification Reports, the sections of the Guyana Application documents under ART, all of which prove that they have read and are aware of the public reporting process under ART. These very reports present the background and reasons supporting the Independent Verifier issuing full approval for Guyana’s credits.

The Office of the Vice President notes that the APA is also deliberately hiding their involvement in the very audit process about which they are complaining about. As part of the audit of Guyana’s application for 2016-2020, the independent verifier conducted an assessment mission to Guyana in April 2022. Field visits were made to several Indigenous Villages to inform their findings. Further, the verifier engaged with multiple stakeholders in more than 20 sessions - a key aspect of the public scoping in the audit process.

The APA was invited and participated in the independent verifier’s session. Additionally, the APA was also invited at the end of this stakeholder meeting, to follow up with the auditor should this be needed. The APA made no such request and expressed no request for follow up or concern to the Auditors in the Audit Process. They chose instead to trigger a complaints process for no apparent, justifiable reason.

The Office of the Vice President contends that APA cannot justifiably say they were not engaged as the evidence available to the public proves otherwise. In fact, for over two years, the APA has been invited by the Office of the President to participate in, and to help lead, consultations across Guyana concerning the LCDS 2030 and ART-TREES. However, the APA was very selective in engaging in the consultation that it has now raised grievances about.

For example, the APA was asked to join other stakeholders on the LCDS Communications Sub-Committee– yet did not attend meetings or participate in any way. They neglected – even though they made an initial offer – to come up with suggestions on addressing some challenges during the national consultations process, such as identifying translators fluent in local languages, leaving this work to others. Yet, included in their complaint to the ART Secretariat, is a claim of lack of translation into the local indigenous languages.

Furthermore, the APA was asked – like other members of the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee (MSSC) - to participate in and lead consultations. Unlike other members of the Steering Committee who led consultations, and gathered input and feedback, the APA never fulfilled this responsibility. The Public should note that after the consultation period was completed, other members of the Steering Committee discovered hundreds of the copies of the draft LCDS 2030, given to the APA to help with distribution and consultation, were still sitting in the APA’s headquarters in the city. The Office of the Vice President is aware that resources were provided to assist with the distribution of the draft LCDS to communities all across the country.

Yet now the APA raises unspecific complaints about a consultation it intentionally did not participate in and seeks to drown out the views and voices of indigenous leaders and other local and international stakeholders who participated

and made very valued contributions to the consultations process.

The APA’s main concern as expressed in their Press Release centres on triggering their default position for any programme that will benefit Amerindian People –there needs to be more consultations and, that development cannot take place unless the conditions and ultimatums they set are met to their satisfaction. This is a position that the APA will struggle to justify by facts and is entirely unacceptable. The facts show that the initial three- month consultation period, announced by His Excellency the President in October 2021, was extended to a seven-month long process of consultations on Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030, and executed from December 2021 to June 2022. The draft LCDS 2030 for public consultation is presented in a publicly available 315 Page Report - https://lcds. gov.gy/summary-of-feedback/ providing records showing extensive consultations were conducted on the LCDS 2030 and showing names of persons consulted, dates and minutes of discussions, including some of the persons now putting forward inaccurate information.

Thousands of persons were consulted, starting with four-hour cluster sessions, which covered in excess of 200 Indigenous Communities over the seven-month period. During these sessions, Guyana’s jurisdictional/national approach to ART TREES was consulted on and the benefits sharing mechanism was a main part of each session. The sessions led to suggestions, that in turn, informed the evolution of the benefits sharing mechanism that was documented in the July 2022 version of the LCDS; this was then reviewed by the National Toshaos’ Council and other key stakeholders.

Guyana’s ART TREES engagement was also:

(i) Consulted on at the National Toshaos’ Conference in July 2022 and a resolution passed supporting this engagement: https://lcds.gov.gy/endorsement-of-lcds2030-by-the-national-toshaos-council/;

(ii) Approved by a Multi Stakeholder Steering Committee overseeing the LCDS: https://lcds.gov.gy/mssc-approves-finalisation-of-ldcs-2030/; and

(iii) Tabled and debated in the Parliament of Guyana with a resolution passed in August 2022: https://lcds.gov.gy/parliamentary-resolution-lcds-2030/. The Endorsement, Approval and Resolution each outline the focus of the LCDS 2030, Guyana’s Jurisdictional ART TREES engagement, and the proposed benefits sharing mechanism which were all part of this process of review and debate.

The APA’s accusations are also unfounded as the Government is on record in saying that consultation is not a not a one-off process. As the LCDS 2030 moves into implementation, and revenues are available through the benefit sharing mechanism, individual villages will have the opportunity to continuously deepen

APA’s motive of preventing the development of Amerindian villages is exposed

It was comprehensively settled that Vishnu Persaud was the better candidate but was still bypassed

Dear Editor,

APNU’s GECOM Commissioner, Mr. Vincent Alexander’s name appeared in recent letters published in sections of main stream media on April 13, 2023 under the headlines: ‘I’m just reacting to call out Rohee’s falsehood about things GECOM’; and ‘Mr. Rohee has manifested a propensity for falsehood’.

In his letters, Mr. Alexander unashamedly returned to a matter that was put to rest years ago by the Ethnic Relations Commission chaired at the time by Justice Stanley Moore, retired Justice of Appeal.

Mr Alexander did not get away with his attempt to mislead the ERC then as regards the requirements for the position Deputy Chief Election Officer (DCEO) as adver -

tised by GECOM in 2018 nor will history allow him to do so ever.

On February 2018 Guyanese newspapers published an advertisement placed by GECOM inviting suitably qualified persons to apply for the vacancy of DCEO.

As far as I am aware, the only two applicants who had applied and were shortlisted to be interviewed for the position were Vishnu Persaud and Roxanne Myers. Both were interviewed by the Commission comprising; VA, CB & DT for the APNU while BSS,(deceased), RB and SG represented the then opposition PPP/C. Scores were awarded and Vishnu Persaud received the highest.

In his letters Alexander claims: In 2018, the GECOM advertisement for the position of DCEO read thus: “Post Graduate

Degree in Social Sciences along with three (3) years’ experience in management of a widely dispersed organization.” There was no dispute in 2018 that Ms. Myers met that requirement. She was not given a free pass. Her qualifications and experience were superior to the other candidates. In 2021, GECOM`s revised advertisement for the position of DCEO read thus: A Post Graduate Degree in Public Administration … and specific training and verifiable experience in management position overseeing and directing diverse operations aimed at achieving targets within specific deadlines. At least five (5) years` experience in Management of National Elections and Election Systems is a prerequisite requirement.”

Mr Alexander’s claim is bizarre to say the least. To claim that Myers’ qualifications were superior to the other candidates’ (sic!) and that ‘there was no dispute that Ms Myers met the requirement with her “superior qualifications and potential to perform” reached the peak of mount falsehood.

Alexander’s claim flies in the face of an investigation by the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) sub-committee headed at the time by Stanley Moore.

Since Mr Alexander chose to revisit this matter, I am obliged to refer once again to the report of the ERC sub-committee in which that body considered it an act of discrimination to appoint Myers over Persaud stating: ‘There are no institutional rules or practice in GECOM which allows for ethnic discrimination in hiring.’

The investigation concluded that ‘Mr.

Persaud was the first candidate in the history of GECOM who had obtained the highest score and had not been appointed. Nothing has been presented to us which, at least on paper, reveals any attributes in Ms. Myers that were capable of offsetting the clear paper advantage which Mr. Persaud enjoyed over his rival.’

The ERC investigation found that Vishnu Persaud was more qualified than Myers and that Myers had absolutely no experience in election management nor in election training.

Experience and qualifications are two separate and distinct requirements for anyone applying for a job. In other words, Myers might have had the academic qualifications required but not the experience; ‘in elections management and or comprehensive knowledge of GECOM’s procedures and processes…’ as was stipulated in GECOM’s advertisement.

In addition, it was not incidental that the ERC’s sub-committee in its investigation, referenced the importance of attributes stating; ‘Nothing has been presented to us which, at least on paper, reveals any attributes in Ms. Myers that she is capable of offsetting the clear paper advantage which Mr. Persaud enjoyed over his rival.’

It is regrettable that Commissioner Alexander continues to harp on a matter that was settled years ago by the Ethnic Relations Commission, a Constitutional Body and by a Court of law.

Yours faithfully, Clement J.

Rohee

Norton’s party nominations continue to show a lack of diversity

Dear Editor,

It cannot go unrecorded or unnoticed that Bharrat Jagdeo as the General Secretary of the PPP/C is a masterclass political strategist, and an inclusive leader as can be demonstrated in the PPP/C's organizing and team selection for the upcoming local government elections.

His ability to lead his party to galvanize supporters and leaders from all sectors of society is most impressive. To have motivated and inspired so many hardcore former PNC and APNU members such as the former Mayor ChaseGreen to be part of his party list speaks volumes on what was always suspected as the destruction of the PNC by its clueless

PPP/C will lead change in every town, village

Dear Editor,

Atsunami came to Guyana on Monday as the PPP/C went forward with pride and conviction on Nomination Day. The positive effects of that tidal wave we will witness come June this year as we go into Local Government Elections.

I am talking about the long-awaited LGE, where we would see a massive new change in this country. That change would be felt in every town, village, and hamlet. We have taken up the mantle and we are not turning back.

The events of the day remind me of the lyrics of the old Negro Spiritual which says “I’m not tired yet”. It’s a song that tells of the Christian’s sojourn in life, one that is bound up in him running to receive the prize. He is running because he has a mission to complete and he would not give up the fight until victory is won. So, the lyrics go on “I’m not tired yet”.

We in the PPP/C have been running that

race for fifty-six years now, running by day and praying by night until all of Guyana is free until all men everywhere are free from the shackles that have bogged us down for too long. For too long we have had to wear the shackles of racism, rigged elections, and retrogression, things that have sent this nation backward, we will not stop until this country is free. We will continue to run until all men, irrespective of race, colour, creed, or religion would come together and work for the good of the land.

Be it New Amsterdam, Linden, or Georgetown a change will come, as more and more of our people come forward, crossing the political and race barrier to rally with the PPP/C. We want to build this nation, One Guyana is our team’s theme, onward ever forward into the future of peace and progress!

and uninspiring leader Aubrey Norton and his inability to keep his core membership together.

Mr. Norton’s PNC party’s nominations continue to show a lack of diversity, are unimpressive, and prove that he does not have what it takes to build a team or to even be a national leader. Norton’s party needs to re-examine his leadership as he

does not have what it takes to play in the big leagues as he continues to carry the party backward.

Congratulations to Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPPC for their spectacular showing on Nomination’s Day 2023.

Yours truly, Brian Azore

Respectfully, Neil

Adams

APA’s positions not grounded in facts

Dear Editor, Iwrite to publicly state my alarm in learning that the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) has filed a “formal complaint” to the Archi-tecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) Secretariat against Guyana’s National Forest Carbon Programme – a key aspect of the LCDS 2030.

I have since seen the 18-page letter with

appendices dated March 8, 2023, addressed to the ART Secre-tariat and copied to several international institutions including the United States Department of State and the Norwegian Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), among others.

It is glaring that no person or agency in Guyana was copied; not even the National Toshaos Council (NTC), the legislated representative of

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APA’s positions not grounded...

the indigenous peoples of Guyana.

Further, as Chairman of the NTC, I categorically state that our Council. Including its executive, was not informed, much less consulted on the APA’s intention to file a complaint purportedly on behalf of our indigenous peoples, and we were not given even the courtesy of notification that the ART Secretariat was being contacted and a complaint registered.

The APA goes as far as to recommend to the ART Secretariat that “the credits issued to Guyana that have not yet been purchased be frozen and suspended, and that no further credits be issued” until the APA’s demands are met. This is presumptuous, totally unacceptable and does not represent the wishes of our indigenous people.

Editor, it is outrageous that the APA, a local NGO with a handful of members in two administrative regions, and with no legislated authority to represent indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in Guyana or anywhere for that matter, could be brazen enough to take such a position.

It is incredible that one of the main accusations the APA levels against the Government of Guyana is the alleged absence of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) regarding issues of our people. Yet, the same APA appoints itself as spokesman of our people and is making demands and even challenging the integrity of Government and international institutions while falsely claiming to be our representatives.

The APA has not informed us of their intentions; they did not provide us with any information of their complaint or demands; we were not consulted and therefore, we have not and could not give our consent to their letter and complaint to the ART Secretariat. In other words, the APA is guilty of the accusations they have unjustifiably levelled against the Government of Guyana. The APA does not honour or respect FPIC.

Editor, the APA is a member of the national multistakeholder steering committee (MSSC) which takes decisions and oversees the LCDS 2030 implementation including the forest carbon

credit programme. I have confirmed that the Committee was not informed of this move by the APA and I am sure that the Guyana Organization of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP), The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAAMOG), Amerindian Development Foundation (ADF) and the Indigenous Peoples Commission (IPC), all of whom are representatives of our IPLCs and are MSSC members, were not consulted or informed by the APA either.

I call upon my fellow Toshaos and other community leaders to call out the APA on their offensive actions.

I urge the ART Secretariat, our international partners, and all Guyanese to see through this veil of deception.

I am at a loss as to why the APA would take such an extreme position which is not based on fact. However, I am almost certain that their views and opinions do not represent me, my village, or the totality of 242 villages, communities and satellites of our Guyanese indigenous sisters and

brothers.

Editor, our indigenous leaders are currently actively engaged in developing plans and projects in consultation with their residents to determine development programmes for their respective communities. There is a hive of activity in all communities across our country. This is a process of self determination regarding how the funds earned and already disbursed to our village bank accounts, under the carbon credit scheme would benefit our people, their livelihoods, and future generations.

The APA must not be allowed to deprive our villages, our communities, our people of the development funds we need to pursue the vision of our people.

Yours sincerely, Derrick John Toshao, Moraikobai Village, Region 5 Chairman, National Toshaos Council

Competitive bidding for oil and gas blocks open to locals – Jagdeo

To ensure that local bidders can contest for the 14 offshore oil blocks being auctioned, the government has relaxed the experience requirements to foster more inclusivity in the process.

Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo indicated this during his press conference on April 13, 2023, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

“We could have gone in the auction and said that

only experienced companies can bid, but that would be only oil and gas companies. We went a bit low on the experience to allow locals to bid too, so I am hoping that they can put in some bids, and then they can make a lot of money too,” he said.

On December 9, 2022, government launched the licensing round for 14 offshore blocks. The original deadline for submissions

was April 14, 2023, but is now extended to July 2023.

Additionally, the extension of the deadline for Guyana’s first competitive offshore oil and gas licensing round will allow for a thorough examination of the legislation and Product Sharing Agreement (PSA).

In relation to the terms and guidelines for this licensing round, Dr Jagdeo clarified that he does not anticipate the government

changing any of the guidelines on the licensing round.

“It’s a lot of work. We have gone through a lot of the issues that we know have to be modernised. And we still need time to consult on the law,” the VP explained.

The vice president advised that following the new deadline for submission in mid-July, government should be able to make a swift decision in awarding

contracts, since by this time, a new PSA and legislation would be in place.

Government had committed to the reformation of the Natural Resources Fund Act (NRF), new fiscal terms, as well as a new PSA, all of which are being followed up.

Further, the EPA permits have seen a notable transition from being extremely weak to veering closer to international standards in

some areas and exceeding these standards in others.

“For example, on the carbon tax, we have exceeded some international standards for these permits. We’ve strengthened the licensing regime, and we are doing a more rigorous engagement with the licensing regime review. These are all things that we promised and have been doing to improve the framework,” Jagdeo declared.

APNU ‘barely’ manages to field candidates in less than half of LGE constituencies

Claims by leader of the PNCR and Chairman of APNU, Aubrey Norton, that the APNU is contesting all 610 constituencies in the 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs) at the 2023 Local Government Elections were rubbished by PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo.

And he charged that such dishonesty is indicative of the disastrous

situation that the PNCRled APNU finds itself in.

“Norton has lied to the country… Forty-five percent can’t be equated to virtually all of the constituencies so he just lied to the entire country…this is for a national party like the APNU to contest in only 45 percent of the constituencies in the country is a total disaster for that party under

his leadership,” Jagdeo said, on Thursday (April 20, 2023) afternoon, during a news conference at Freedom House, Robb Street.

Jagdeo explained that based on the numbers:

• The PPP/C is contesting all 610 constituencies in all of the 80 LAAs.

• The APNU is only contesting in 279 constituen -

cies our of the 80 LAAs. Norton on Thursday (April 20, 2023) morning, said widespread support enabled “us to participate in Local Government Elections (LGE) nationwide.”

When pressed on the matter, he said, with the exception of “three or four” LAAs, the APNU submitted candidate lists for all LAAs to the Guyana Elec -

tions Commission. He said, “Virtually all (the LAAs)…in Lethem, we had a problem and we have written we wrote the Elections Commission and that ended dealing with that. But in many other areas we have submitted…across the country we have submitted in virtually all the NDCs, all the constituencies and all the towns, except I think

for Lethem, where there is a problem…we might be short by like three or four if so many.”

Based on the numbers, the PPP/C is facing a no contest in 283 constituencies of the 610 constituencies in the 80 Local Authority Areas come June 12, 2023, when Local Government Elections are scheduled to be held.

Positions from PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo

PPP/C Lists of Candidates reflect ‘face of Guyana’ – Jagdeo

Withsome 2,020 candidates fielded for the Local Government Elections, set for June 12, 2023, the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo, contends that the PPP/C has once again demonstrated that it is Guyana’s only multi-racial political party in Guyana.

He explained that the List of Candidates include:

• 1,161 men and 859 women;

• 613 between the ages of 18 and 35-years-old;

• 691 between the ages of 36 and 50-years-old;

• 716 persons over 50-years old; and

• 341 Afro-Guyanese; 84 Amerindians; 187 Guyanese of mixed-race; and 1,408 Indo-Guyanese.

Jagdeo charged that the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition has been the “loudest” in its claims of racism and discrimination, but to date, remains unable to replicate the diversity and inclusivity demonstrated by the PPP/C. He said, “The PPP is a national party, as we have demonstrated over and over and over again.”

STRUGGLE AGAINST RACISM

Last month, the PPP General Secretary was clear in stressing that the PPP is waging a struggle to against the race-baiting by the PNCRled APNU+AFC Coalition.

He had said, “They say the PPP/C is a racist party, but our history, our practices or policies, or philosophy all speak differently. And today, we’re fighting this in ev -

exposes

General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has exposed a ‘whisper campaign’ being utilised by the APNU, attempting to incite fear in Georgetown vendors.

Speaking at his press conference at Freedom House, Georgetown on Thursday (April 20, 2023), the General Secretary reassured that vendors plying their trade in the city have nothing to fear from the PPP.

“They’ve gone through the market and told the vendors that if the PPP wins

PNCR leader called on to back up his talk of fraud, PPP agrees on police action for fraudsters

Talk about a response from law enforcement on allegations of fraudulent actions, specifically the forging of signatures of backers (supporters) for the Lists of Candidates submitted for Local Government Elections to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), was endorsed by General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Bharrat Jagdeo.

tioned why no one had come forward to publicly admit that their signature had been forged, Norton refused to back up his allegation and instead urged the media to track down the culprits and deal with them in an anonymous manner.

ery single community….the PPP/C is the only multi-ethnic party in this country.”

“…this truth resonates now because when they tried to distort the message in the Afro-Guyanese villages and other communities across the country, they were confronted with a narrative that is very different on the ground because they don’t know that many people in these villages almost every one of these villages, we now have a party group.”

According to Jagdeo, the racism of the PNCR will lead to their demise.

“That’s their only purpose in the party. Not to promote a multi-ethnic and to respect people of every race and every faith as this party does.

They (PNC/R) saw them as outsiders. That philosophy, the racism of the PNC will lead to their demise, and now they are rapidly dying as an organisation. At the next elections, not just the local government one. We

the election in Georgetown, they’re going to be thrown off the road and they’re not going to have a place to vend. Here, in the city too, the vendors have nothing to worry about, but the whisper campaign has started. This is how they work in Afro-Guyanese communities. They can’t campaign openly and spread their racist message, because they know they will be called out on it,” Jagdeo explained.

He reminded that the opposition’s tenure in office saw a blatant attack on vendors, which was met with

will prove that definitively in the one in 2025,” the PPP General Secretary said.

He added, “When I hear everyone talk about inclusivity, just recently they’ve been trying in the international community to go and bad mouth us. To say, oh this is a racist Government and they were told, well if you look at the Judiciary it’s balanced in this country. You have people of every race in the Judiciary. In the legislature, it reflects the nature of Guyana….and in the executive of our party, the Cabinet, it looks like Guyana too. So, what are you talking about? Recently, the State Department report pointed out that in spite of these complaints, this Government has people of all races in senior leadership positions. And that is the nature of our party.”

The PPP General Secretary stressed that the Party will continue to work hard to win the support of more Guyanese.

protest by the PPP.

The Mayor and City Council had attempted to stop the vendors from plying their trade.

“It was the PPP that was fighting to ensure that this didn’t happen. We said that people had to have a place to make a livelihood, once they’re engaged in honest, decent business activities,” Jagdeo stressed.

The PPP General Secretary reaffirmed that the Party is committed to creating avenues and platforms that allow persons to make a living.

Norton on Thursday (April 20, 2023) morning alleged that the PPP/C was involved in fraudulent actions, and when pressed on what action he would take, said, “I believe that these are matters of fraud and we have to pursue them at the level of law enforcement. We are going to possibly bring private criminal charges against some….. the PPP was involved in fraud, and we will pursue this matter to the end.”

Jagdeo, during his news conference on Thursday (April 20, 2023) afternoon, in response said, “I agree with Norton, that anyone who has committed any illegality in these elections, should face the full brunt of the law…we need to send a strong signal –there can be no fraudulent actions in an electoral process.”

Notably, when ques -

The PPP General Secretary, in contrast, demonstrated where the APNU forged signatures on its Lists of Candidates, even in areas like Linden, which has been a traditional stronghold support area for the PNCR. He said, “We are aware that APNU forged many signatures, and we are taking steps to address the matter…many people have gone to the police; many have written to GECOM… this is what Norton and his party has done. And the pattern is seen right across the country,” he said, also reading from a letter sent to GECOM by linden resident, Marsha McKinnon, who objected her name being used by the APNU in Retrieve, Region 10.

Jagdeo said, “Norton can do the same (release the information), since he says he has information.”

Meanwhile, he charged too that two PNCR activists

have been engaged in intimidation of some persons and have been forcing them to sign letters, all of which have one common template. “It is pure intimidation. The people are scared. We can put in additional names. We can find the additional names, and these are backers (supporters on the List of Candidates). These are not candidates. They are threatening the people and their candidates, and you know when people live in these areas, they are fearful,” Jagdeo said.

Notably, in the face of Norton’s claims that the names of backers were forged in the Union/Naarstigheid NDC, a statement from the PPP/C candidate said, “My name is Rosaline Carmichael of Lot 503 Number 30 Village, West Coast Berbice. I am a constituency candidate of the People’s Progressive Party Civic for the Union/ Naarstigheid NDC. During the month of January 2023, I obtained voluntarily, the requisite signatures of residents in my community in support of my candidacy for the June 12th, 2023 Local Government Elections. At no time did I engage in any unlawful conduct in obtaining the said signatures.”

POSITIONS FROM FREEDOM HOUSE

PPP/C condemns APNU’s bullyism in Region 5

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has been notified by several residents of Region Five that operatives of the PNC/ APNU, namely, Member of Parliament (MP) Vinceroy Jordan, Carol Smith-Joseph and Darren Wade, have resorted to their usual intimidatory tactics and bullyism.

These notorious characters are visiting the homes of persons in Region Five whose names appear on the PPP/C Backers’ List and threatening them, forcing them to withdraw their names by signing pre-prepared documents. These persons related that they are

now scared for their lives and that of their families.

One of the Party’s Candidates for Union\Naarstigheid LAA, Region 5, Ms. Rosaline Carmichael, issued a statement testifying that the signatures were obtained voluntarily and lawfully.

We believe that these actions are being done to divert attention from the fact that the PNC/APNU is unable to compete in 55% of the Constituencies and twenty-four (24) Local Authority Areas (LAA) across the country and to mask the glaring shortcomings of its lists, which include among others, a lack of diversity in

age and ethnicity. The party condemns in the strongest possible terms, these acts of bullyism, which is typical of the PNC/APNU, particularly in the case of the notorious Carol Smith-Joseph. We call on residents from across the country to be vigilant and to resist any such further attempts, as we bring this matter to the attention of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Elections Commission.

Jagdeo

APNU’s ‘whisper campaign’

PPP/C fields over 2,000 candidates for LGE 2023 – General Secretary

Thedemocratic process took centre stage Monday (April 18, 2023) as Nomination Day for the long-awaited Local Government Elections (LGE) got underway nationwide.

Several political parties and individual candidates contesting the elections gathered at strategic areas in all ten administrative regions to submit their list of candidates to the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) returning officers.

PPP/C’s General Secretary, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo said the party is contesting all 610 constituencies in Guyana. “We have fielded over 2,000 candidates and we have about 26,000 backers so we are going into this big right across the country. As you know even in opposition, we were the only party who contested all the local government areas across Guyana. But this time around we have exceeded those,” he said.

According to him, the PPP/C’s list is inclusive, including youths and women. “Our list represents Guyana. People of every race, every

religion, and every gender, and that’s is what the PPP is about…it is about development,” he said.

Asked about a projection for this year’s Local Government Elections, Jagdeo said, “We don’t forecast things. We work hard and we let the residents decide. We campaign hard. We are very reluctant to forecast about that. That is dependent on the voters but we are going to take a strong message of development to every corner of the City as we will do right across the country.”

WINS IN OTHER AREAS

Referencing Georgetown, the General Secretary noted that the PNCR-led A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has been running the city for some 57 years since independence and it is time that the PPP/C get the chance to show Guyanese, particularly residents of Georgetown, how the city should be led.

Jagdeo said, ““We’re focusing on developing communities right across Guyana and every time we’ve been

in office, our country has moved forward… but we’ve never had a chance to run Georgetown…we are saying to the residents of Georgetown, give us a chance here because for too long you’ve heard APNU’s propaganda and they’ve done practically nothing to fix the city. We want a team in there, your team, the team that we have chosen that will focus on helping the residents of this city.”

In Linden, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, who led the PPP/C contingent through the streets of Linden, said, “The numbers tell the story today and will tell the story on June 12…no place in Guyana the PNC has a transport… these are supporters, backers, candidates, real people who want to support PPP/C…we are confident that we will gain ground but we will not take anything for granted. Our campaign will be door to door we will give everyone an opportunity.”

Further, the PPP/C will be contesting all four constituencies within the Den Amstel, which falls under the

Hague/ Blankenburg constituency in Region 3. Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, in comments on the issue said, “In this particular NDC, Den Amstel we have not been able to compete effectively in the past. But this time around, on this Nomination Day, we have four constituencies.”

PNCR LOSING SUPPORT

Further, a number of crossover candidates, on Monday (April 17, 2023) made public their support for the PPP/C.

Former Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase-Green as well as former councillors, Malcolm Ferreira and Tricia Richardson, have all crossed the political floor in support of the PPP/C

Richardson, in comments said, “

Ferreira said, “I noticed that the government invested a lot of money in infrastructure (in Albouystown) and so that gave me an indication that persons were willing to work with others and here I am.”

Meanwhile, Chase-Green,

when asked said, “One Guyana, unity and progress…we are moving forward. Aren’t we?.” When asked about the reason for crossing over, she said, “One Guyana, unity and progress.”

Also coming on board with the PPP/C was national footballer, Jeremey Garrett; former national cricketer and businessman, Steven Jacobs; and former Citizenship Initiative executive Alfonso De Armas.s

GECOM PROCESS

Parties, groups and independents were told to submit their nominees at the Returning Offices in the 70 neighbourhood and 10 municipal districts. Meanwhile, any lists not meeting the statutory requirements would be classified as defective, and the representative of the list would be allowed to correct those defects.

The statutory procedures following Nomination Day ensure that all legal requirements are met by the contestants for their List of Candidates to be approved

to contest the elections.

LGEs are necessary for the appointment of persons in charge of local democratic organs.

Local democratic organs which include NDCs and municipalities provide a link between the central government and communities. They are responsible for assessing the needs of residents and ensuring development at the community level. This includes implementing and enforcing local laws such as building codes, zoning regulations, and business licensing requirements, maintaining roads and public spaces, and waste management, among others.

LGEs are therefore important, as they allow citizens to have a direct say in who will represent them and make decisions on their behalf at the local level. It also gives citizens a voice in shaping the policies and priorities of their community and ensures that local government officials are held responsible to their constituents.

Local Government Elections (LGE) are a key, important part of our democracy, and it is a testament to the People's Progressive Party/ Civic’s (PPP/C) commitment to maintaining a democratic society, in advancing governance, and ensuring that our local democratic organs are functioning effectively and efficiently.

The declaration came from PPP Executive and President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Tuesday (April 18, 2023), during a live broadcast, where he also rubbished the play of “backward politics” by detractors of the PPP/C, including leader of the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition, Aubrey Norton. He said, “I have been looking at different comments from some leaders in the sporting community. People who call themselves national coaches and assistant coaches. I've been reading comments from the leader of the Opposition, someone who speaks about democracy and inclusiveness, and some of the statement that is attributed to him and that

he's making is of great cause for concern.

“For example, using comments like money as a disposal for black support. That is disparaging you care to respect our Afro- Guyanese brothers and sisters, and this is what you would say to them, that they can be bought? That backward type of politics, that disheartening type of politics is something of the past. That can't win anymore in the future, Mr Norton. That can't bring people together. That age-old strategy of yours has died understand this.”

Ali added, “You cannot disparage people this way that they can be bought with money, that is what we fought for against slavery and indentureship people cannot be bought in modern society. You don't believe that our Afro- Guyanese brothers and sisters who joined us that they have the capacity to think and analyse for themselves…then you are saying that people were paid to put on a jersey. This is how you think and believe in our people, this is how you

view our Guyanese brothers and sisters, especially our Afro- Guyanese brothers and sisters. That they are so susceptible, that they can be paid to put on the jersey. This type of disparaging politics, a disparaging view of people, it's disrespectful and I denounce it. I denounce that’s disrespect to our people.”

DEBATE IDEAS

The President called for LGE 2023 to be an opportunity to debate ideas and put community development at the forefront. “Why can't we let these elections be one where we're debating ideas, moving, and sharing ideas… developing a new paradigm in which the future is built and ideas and vision are built on a focus on what is good for national development, what is good for a country, and not a future that is built on racism and one that is built on division and one that is built on dishonour?” he questioned.

Ali added, “I want to encourage all Guyanese, every single Guyanese who have embraced us as a political

party that the future belongs to all of you. This beautiful country belongs to all of us, Guyana belongs to every single citizen and I am so pleased that so many of us are responding to a national call in creating a common platform to foster development in which democracy can grow, in which tolerance can grow.

“The demonstration of the wide cross-section of Guyanese in support of the People's Progressive Party is a demonstration of what democracy can do to bring people together, the level of tolerance, respect and honour we give to each other.”

MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER

Ali noted that a modern society must be built on a framework of tolerance, democracy, and respect for the rule of law; and must be focused on the development of ideas and a vision that leads to national development.

“I've seen leading members of the opposition calling on the boycott of businesses owned by Afro- Guyanese people. What nonsense is

this? What backwardness is this? This is what you call leadership. This is what you call building inclusive society. This is what you call democracy? This is what you call tolerance. Oh, my dear friends, it is not. Why can't you provide good leadership by respecting the rights of people? Good leadership is to respect the choices of people. Respect, that is what democracy is. It gives people choices,” he stressed.

According to him, Guyana’s sustainable development can only be achieved through unity. He said, “The People's Progressive Party, we are pleased and honoured as a party to have the backing and candidates to contest every single constituency and every single local authority, whether it's the township or NDC across our beautiful country Guyana.

“I congratulate all the candidates, all the backers and all the supporters for the hard work that they would have put into ensuring that PPP is contesting every constituency because for us, every constituency is

valuable to us. Every community is valuable, for us, every region is valuable for us every Guyanese, every single Guyanese is valuable.

“I am most pleased this morning to look at all the images across our country and to see the true nature of the People's Progressive Party, bringing our Guyanese of all ethnicity, all backgrounds, all persuasions, all political affiliation, every single Guyanese coming together under a common banner of inclusivity, building trust and (Inaudible) trust and developing and putting our country firts and foremost.

“To all those who are new to the People's Progressive Party as candidates, supporters, and backers, we welcome you. I am so pleased that all of you are with us on this journey to building a better country, and better communities, and fostering development for your fellow Guyanese brothers and sisters.”

The 2023 Local Government Elections are scheduled to be held on June 12, 2023.

LGE offers opportunity to advance development grounded on vison, not division – Ali

LGE 2023 NOMINATION DAY

The PPP/C's contingent in Lethem, Region 9, presented its list of candidates at the GECOM registration office. Housing Minister and PPP senior member, Collin Croal was also present

MABARUMA

The List of Candidates for the Municipality of Mabaruma, Region 1, being submitted for LGE 2023

NEW AMSTERDAM

The PPP/C team contesting the Municipality of New Amsterdam, Region 6

LINDEN

The PPP/C team contesting the Municipality of Linden, Region 10

ROSE HALL

The PPP/C team contesting the Municipality of Rose Hall, Region 6

BARTICA

The PPP/C team contesting the Municipality of Bartica, Region 7

MAHDIA

The PPP/C team contesting the Municipality of Mahdia, Region 8

LETHEM

PPP/C

LGE 2023 NOMINATION

TOEVLUGT/PATENTIA

PPP/C supporters submitting the list for the Toevlugt/Patentia NDC, Region 3

ANNANDALE/RIVERSTOWN

PPP/C

HAGUE-BLANKENBURG

The PPP/C team has been camped out at Den Amstel's GECOM office to submit its list of candidates to contest LGE 2023 in the Hague/Blankenburg NDC

BEST-KLIEN-POUDEREYEN

PPP/C supporters submitting the list for the Best/Klien/Poudereyesn NDC, in Region 3

ABERDEEN/ ZORG-EN-VLUGHT PPP/C supporters submitting the list for the Aberdeen/ Zorg-en-Vlught NDC, in Region 2

PORT KAITUMA-MATTHEWS RIDGE

supporters submitting the list for the Port Kaituma Matthews Ridge NDC, in Region 1

supporters submitting the list for the Annandale/Riverstown NDC, in Region 2

MOCHA-ARCADIA

The PPP/C Mocha/Arcadia team in Region 4 is first in line to submit the list of candidates for LGE 2023

ECCLES-RAMSBURG

The PPP/C team contesting at the Eccles/Ramsburg NDC, in Region 4, prepared to submit their list of candidates for LGE 2023

NOMINATION DAY

LBI

The PPP/C Team contesting in the Better Hope/La Bonne Intention (LBI), East Coast Demerara, Region 4

ENMORE-HOPE

The PPP/C team contesting at the Enmore/ Hope NDC, in Region 4, prepared to submit their list of candidates for LGE 2023

GROVE-DIAMOND

The PPP/C Team contesting in the Golden Grove-Diamond, East Coast Demerara, Region 4, prepare to submit their list of candidates for LGE 2023

INDUSTRY-PLAISANCE

The PPP/C team contesting at the Industry/Plaisance NDC, in Region 4, prepared to submit their list of candidates for LGE 2023

BUXTON-FOULIS

The PPP/C team contesting at the Buxton-Foulis NDC, in Region 4, submit their list of candidates for LGE 2023

SOESDYKE-HUIST COVERDEN

The PPP/C team contesting at the Soesdyke/Huist Coverden NDC, in Region 4, prepared to submit their list of candidates for LGE 2023

BV-TRIUMPH

The PPP/C team contesting at the Beterverwagting/ Triumph NDC, in Region 4, prepared to submit their list of candidates for LGE 2023

HASLINGTON-GROVE

The PPP/C team contesting at the Haslington/Grove NDC, in Region 4, prepared to submit their list of candidates for LGE 2023

LANCASTER-HOGSTYE

The PPP/C Lancaster/ Hogstye team in Region Six is in line to submit the list of candidates at Manchester Secondary School for LGE 2023

PROFIT-RISING SUN

PPP/C supporters submitting the list for the Profit/Rising Sun NDC, in Region 5

LGE 2023 NOMINATION DAY

Former Mayor of Georgetown Patricia Chase-Green has joined the ruling Peoples Progressive Party (PPP). Chase-Green was Mayor of Georgetown under the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNCR)

President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, with PPP/C comrades camped outside the Critchlow Labour College before the submission of lists

Former APNU+AFC councillor in the Georgetown city council, Trichria Richards (far left) has joined the PPP/C. Richards and former Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green were part of the PPP/C's contingent to submit the party's list of candidates for local government elections

FOCUS ON GUYANA’S FIRST PEOPLE

PNCR-led Coalition working through ‘surrogate agencies’ to block Amerindian development – Jagdeo

Vice President, Dr Bharrat

Jagdeo has called out the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) as just another surrogate agency through which the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition is working to block development in the Amerindian communities, by attempting to derail the forest carbon payments allocated to these communities.

Responding to a question posed by the media, during a recent press conference hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre [ACCC], the Vice President exposed the opposition tactic of hiding behind Non-Governmental Agencies (NGOs), that are historically hostile towards the PPP/C. “So, they work through these surrogate agencies. They hate the PPP. They can’t come out on their own, they don’t want to enter into the political fray and take us on. So, they hide behind some of these NGOs.”

He added, “APA has done that, you know the history… They now are trying to block money for the Amerindian

Communities, in the name of the Amerindians without consulting with any village.

Jean La Rose was the deputy leader of the APNU’s list in 2015. So, they are clearly aligned…The head of the APA said that the PPP terminated the land titling unit, when we established the land titling unit, we put $10 million U.S. from the LCDS money to accelerate land titling. APNU closed it off and she gave an interview in the Stabroek News and then said that the PPP had shut it down and then it was a big furore back and forth between, I think, the Stabroek News and her about that. She said she was misquoted, she wasn’t misquoted. She actually repeated it several times. So, we’ve established that already.”

The APA had issued a statement accusing the government of violating the tenets of free, prior and informed consent [FPIC] when engaging Amerindian communities, citing the consultation process for the

President Ali announces several interventions to boost development in Parikwarinau

President, Dr Mohamed

Irfaan Ali, while addressing villagers of Parikwarinau, Region Nine on Saturday, April 8, assured them of his government’s interventions which will aid in the development of the village.

“Within the next two to three weeks, the Minister of Local Government Nigel Dharamlall will work on bringing in a supply of cassava sticks to support you to expand your production of cassava and farine,” the President disclosed.

This assistance, he noted, will aid in Guyana’s food security efforts and create an avenue for income to support families in the area and at the same time boost the region’s agriculture drive.

Wells are also slated to be developed in the area, however, President Ali explained that, “We know we have to extend the water

sale of the carbon credits. However, it was following consultations between the government and stakeholders that it was agreed that 15 per cent of all proceeds from any sale of Guyana’s carbon credits will go to Amerindian communities. It was also decided that population size is key in the determination of the disbursement process.

In this regard, a total of $4.6 billion (US$22 million), representing 15 per cent of Hess’ first payment for Guyana’s carbon credits, was disbursed to the various communities. The funds have been disbursed into separate bank accounts to ensure transparency and accountability, with each community receiving up to $35 million and no less than $10 million.

The APA, has since, with a complaint, has triggered the grievance process with the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) Secretariat, as it relates to the issuance of Guyana's ARTTREES credits for the period 2016-2020 and has called for

“So, they work through these surrogate agencies. They hate the PPP. They can’t come out on their own, they don’t want to enter into the political fray and take us on. So, they hide behind some of these NGOs.”

the suspension of Guyana’s credits.

“They’ve now written to ART [Architecture for REDD+ Transactions] and ART has a grievance process through which you can trigger, and that’s what they did. So that’s how they’re trying to block it, I think with approval from APNU. APNU doesn’t like this too. You saw the negatives coming out. So, this is where they’re trying, but they can’t block this year’s allocation, they’re trying to block next year’s allocation, but we’re dealing with that, too. We are pointing out to the people who they really are,” Dr Jagdeo related.

Further, asked about the submission of village plans, the Vice President said if the villages require assistance, they have to submit

a request to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs which has a mechanism in place to provide the necessary support. “The money is already sitting in their accounts. So, it depends on the pace at which they develop it. But they have to go through a particular process in developing these plans. They have to take it to each village and they have to have to vote on the plan and that’s how you get the village buying into the development plans. So, it’s not just the Toshao and two councillors sitting down and coming up with something. They have to go to a village council and similarly, there is a mechanism to ensure that the resources are accountably spent,” the VP clarified.

ART, in December 2022, issued the world’s first

TREES credits to Guyana. This marked a milestone as it is the first time a country has been issued carbon credits specifically designed for the voluntary and compliance carbon markets for successfully preventing forest loss and degradation -- a process known as jurisdictional REDD+. A total of 33.47 million TREES credits were issued to Guyana for the five-year period from 2016 to 2020. These serialized credits, listed on ART’s public registry, are available to buyers on the global carbon market, including for use by airlines for compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s global emission reduction program, CORSIA, as well as for use toward voluntary corporate climate commitments.

Over $19B from IDB to transform hinterland health infrastructure

Severalhinterland communities will soon see a significant boost in the delivery of healthcare, through an investment of over $19.4 billion (US$97 million).

service to you, but we want to bring some initial help to you almost immediately… within the next month we are going to give every single household a black tank so that it can help you to store water while we expand the system.”

The village will also be benefitting from solar panels as soon as the 30,000 from India arrive in Guyana.

Further, as part of efforts to increase employment opportunities, the head of state noted that a contract will be given to the village to boost the local economy. He said, “The government is going to pay you to produce 5,000 clay-brick blocks that we are going to buy from you right here in the community so that it will provide jobs and opportunities for you.”

Another 5,000 blocks will also be distributed to each household in the village to aid home construction.

Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony said the medical upgrades will be done through the hinterland development programme, while the funds will be made available following the signing of an agreement with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in December 2022.

The minister made the disclosure during the commissioning of the Paramaka-

toi Smart Hospital, Region Eight, recently. “We have earmarked in Kato to look at the development of a new hospital. So, people from around that area would benefit from that hospital. We will put in all of the things that are necessary for a modern hospital. We are also looking to upgrade Lethem, Mabaruma, Moruca, and a whole host of other sites in the interior. That project is going to start this year and maybe continue for the next three or four years as we build out these facilities,” he added.

Minister Anthony said it is extremely important to

have healthcare professionals from the hinterland staff the upgraded facilities. “If you have persons that are interested in training, we want them to be part of this programme. You would see the quality of healthcare in the hinterland being transformed… you can see the difference in the investments that we are making; not just from government, but with partners like the UK, PAHO, and others who have been helping us to do this,” Dr Anthony noted.

Meanwhile, the administration remains keen on having a robust healthcare sector by ensuring the nec-

essary investments are made in terms of medications and transportation, with the procurement of ambulances and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) which are equitably distributed to various communities.

“Also, when you have sick patients, we want to be able to send out an ambulance to be able to get them and bring them to the hospital. We have been giving out a lot of boats and this, too, is to enhance the networking of transportation that we have. So, we are working on these things and you would see things changing for the better,” Minister Anthony pointed out.

First 150 allottees of Tract ‘CHPA’, Region 9 receive agreements of sale

The Ministry of Housing and Water-Central Housing and Planning Authority commenced processing of Agreements of Sale for the initial 150 allottees of the Tract ‘CHPA’ Housing Scheme in Lethem, Region Nine.

Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal, who was present at the activity, stated that the process is a critical stage since it gives beneficiaries legal ownership of their land and they can now anticipate receiving their Certificate of Title, which can be used to obtain financing from

banks to construct their dream homes.

Permanent Secretary, Mr. Andre Ally; Mayor of Lethem, Mr. John Macedo; and Deputy Mayor, Ms. Debra King were also at the exercise, held at the Regional Housing Office in Lethem.

The new housing development at Tract CHPA, commonly known as Poke Bridge, has been allocated to some 543 residents. Of this, 400 allottees have so far been able to access their land, as infrastructure works in the area including access roads progress.

Within the next few weeks, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is also expected to commence logging in the scheme to determine the optimal location for a well.

“We will drill a well this year for that area,” Minister Croal assured the residents. He further noted that the scheme will be developed into a wholesome and sustainable environment.

The overjoyed recipients lauded the government’s efforts, as they proudly exited the venue with their Agreement of Sale.

To further improve access

to homeownership in the region, the first 58 Region Nine residents also received the Steel and Cement Housing Subsidy vouchers on Saturday. Minister Croal also highlighted the Lethem Housing Support Project, which will see some 600 persons benefiting from a $3 million two-bedroom home.

The government will contribute $1 million towards the cost of construction for each home. Minister Croal noted that with these ongoing projects, the Ministry is pumping over $1 billion into Region Nine.

– Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Agricola residents awarded over $23M in contracts for drainage works

Five persons residing in the community of Agricola, East Bank Demerara, were on April 14, 2023 awarded some $23.2 million in contracts to execute drainage works in the community.

This is following a commitment made by His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali during a community engagement in February.

During the simple signing ceremony at the St. Anne’s Primary School, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar urged the contractors to mobilise their teams and execute the projects efficiently.

“I told you all that this

week we will start the work and I am here. I want each contractor to ensure you do the work properly… Treat the workers fairly, give them fair wages. When you are finished, it is the president’s expectation that you get continuous employment,” Minister Indar stated.

Each of the contractors will be hiring residents of the community to execute the project.

This is part of the administration’s effort to foster community development, as it allows residents to actively participate in infrastructural projects. Their participation will also ensure all

Gov’t will ensure it gets

value for money

from contractors – Indar

The Ministry of Public Works will continue to be firm with contractors undertaking development projects to ensure that timelines are met and the works are completed satisfactorily, gaining value for taxpayers’ dollars.

hood, it is meant for good. It means that the street was bad in the first place, and we are trying to make it good. When government spends taxpayers’ money, it is meant for good,” the minister stated.

project being behind its extended September 2022 deadline, the completed portion of the road is laced with structural defects.

parameters of the project are realised in keeping with the scope of work.

Further, Minister Indar highlighted that the involvement of residents is essential as it creates more opportunities for citizens to gain employment through various sectors. “There are a lot of houses that the Ministry of Housing is building and we want people to be trained so that they can go into those kinds of businesses, to continue to work so that you can take care of yourself and your loved ones. We have been doing this in other areas,” the minister added.

The project has a deadline of one month.

This position was made clear by Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Deodat Indar, during a recent interview, where he explained that there are many cases where contractors will begin a project, only to have said project stalled for a variety of reasons, such as material shortage or delay.

“When that happens, you have a frustrated resident or someone in a wheelchair who cannot get in or out. That is where the complaints come from. At a policy level, we take this very seriously.

When we have a contract for a street in the neighbour-

Minister Indar explained that this situation is common, especially with the construction of community roads. “When we assumed the government, most of the roads in this country were in a dilapidated state. We are now fixing those, community by community, and if you were to go throughout this country, you would see it,” he added.

This came mere hours after the minister called for the termination of an $87 million concrete road project in the Mahdia township, following a three-year-long saga of slothful work and excuses.

In addition to the road

Further, the contractors for road projects at Danjah Street are on ‘thin ice’, as only 42 per cent of the $60.5 million concrete road project was executed.

The minister also informed residents that the project has surpassed its completion date, therefore it will be cancelled.

A stern warning was also extended to the contractors responsible for completing a $108.6 million concrete road (500 metres) within the Mahdia township. These contractors were given a deadline of one month from now to have the works completed.

This stern hand has characterised the public works ministry’s management of infrastructural projects.

GPHC conducting close to 2,000 CT scans monthly

Some2,000 Computed Tomography (CT) scans are currently being conducted monthly at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). This is a drastic increase from the mere hundreds that were previously conducted.

This update was provided by Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, during his recent appearance on the televised programme, ‘The Guyana Dialogue.’

“Up to last year, we were doing a couple of hundred CT scans per month. We are now doing close to

2,000 CTs per month at the GPHC,” he said.

The increase comes after the government implemented a policy last November, which saw all CT scans at the facility being conducted at no cost to the patient and administered based on the urgency of the issue.

The monumental move by the government was met with praise, with multiple patients stating that the removal of the fee would greatly assist in lifting the financial burden of healthcare.

Before November 2022, the cost of a CT scan ranged from around $15,000 to over

$50,000 in some instances. The government’s intervention assisted in removing financial constraints as well as expedited the treatment and care of patients, as there was no delay for patients who face difficulty in covering the cost of their CT scans. The Government of Guyana is currently working to modernise and transform the health sector.

A slew of new measures that are being implemented will see every person in Guyana receiving access to high-quality and affordable healthcare over the next few years.

Drafting of new domestic violence legislation in final stage

The government is in the final stage of drafting the new domestic violence legislation, which will cater to newer forms of violence and further protect and respond to the societal ill of domestic violence affecting Guyanese families.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud is optimistic that once the process is completed the legislation would be tabled in the National Assembly this year.

Minister Persaud told reporters on April 13, 2023 that the proposed legislation saw consultations with a number of important agencies including the Guyana Bar Association and the Women Law-

yers’ Association. “With all of those recommendations, suggestions, and input we are now at the stage where crafting what we hope will be the final legislation and if all goes well, then we can… see it on the floor [National Assembly] this year,” she said. The ‘Domestic Violence Act’ of 1996 is expected to be overhauled with some 40 proposed amendments, which the government hopes will address the archaic issue of domestic violence.

Although the current domestic violence legislation has a more civil component to it, as opposed to a penal one, the new legislation will contain both.

The proposed amend -

ments include requiring the expansion of the current Domestic Violence Act, which entails the definitions of domestic violence. This will consist of a more comprehensive definition of economic, emotional, and psychological violence.

In addition, penalties for breach of protection orders and inclusion of batterer intervention programmes and counselling as remedies under the law will be updated.

Heavy focus is also being placed on identifying mechanisms to tackle domestic violence as one of the key elements in modernising legislation and policies, ultimately strengthening systems.

PPP/C DELIVERING ON ‘PLAN FOR PROSPERITY’

People’s involvement a key aspect of anti-corruption framework – Teixeira

Anti-corruption legislation plays an integral role in building a democratic framework and fostering sustainable development.

And Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira on Monday (April 17, 2023) said the ‘eyes and ears’ concept is an important component in building out the anti-corruption framework.

The concept refers to a strategy that involves encouraging members of society to act as vigilant citizens and report any suspicious or corrupt activities they may observe.

Minister Teixeira was the

keynote speaker on day one of the 9th Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies (CCAICACB) being hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

She pointed to the establishment of the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) in 2021 to manage reporting and monitoring, in accordance with international anti-corruption policies and its role in fostering greater participation in the reporting process.

However, there is still a need for the involvement

of persons at the grassroots level to strengthen the anti-corruption structure. “In every community in Guyana, there is a senior citizen who is watching like a hawk from their veranda or backstep what is happening in the community, what they are doing with the road, how much sand they are using, how much gravel, how long they work…we have to give credence to these persons who do recognise the value of money,” the minister noted.

She stressed that people need to be encouraged to become the eyes and ears of anti-corruption. “We are to

$82M drill commissioned to expand wells countrywide

Residents of the hinterland and riverain communities will continue to get better access to treated water as an $82 million PAT-Drill, compressor, and mud pump were commissioned at the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) headquarters on April 14, 2023.

The PAT-Drill can dig wells up to 600 feet and is the second to be procured by the government. The machine will expand the GWI’s capacity of providing potable water nationwide.

During the simple ceremony, Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal said there will be no hassle to move the newly commis -

sioned drill to other regions.

A twelve-member team from GWI will undergo training for two days to learn how to effectively operate the machine.

“Because of the geographical makeup of our country, much of the access is via the river. And so, this serves and allows us to put this on mobile, whether its boat or vehicle mobile to transport into particular villages,” Croal said.

He added that the ministry is hoping to tender two other drills to advance the drilling of wells to meet its 2023 mandate.

Meanwhile, GWI’s Chief Executive Officer, Shaik

Baksh said a well will be drilled at Silver Hill along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. He said the machine will then be transported to the Pomeroon where another six wells will be dug. We expect to complete these six wells by the end of the year. It’s a big task. This is a huge investment of the government,” Baksh underscored.

The ministry has budgeted some $1.8 billion to further upgrade and extend the water supply this year.

While the government continues to ensure every citizen benefits from potable water, there is already 95 per cent water coverage in Region Nine.

Region Nine residents to benefit from four more telemedicine sites

Persons residing in communities in Region Nine

(Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) are set to benefit from four more telemedicine sites this year, which will help to transform the delivery of healthcare services.

Through the technologically advanced facilities, Georgetown-based doctors and specialists will be able to provide real-time care to residents in need.

During the launch of the biomedical programme on Friday, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony emphasised that the programme will be expanded this year, as a result of its successes and the advantages of integrating technology into health services.

“We’re adding 15 more sites. We’ll be putting four in Region One, four in Region Seven, four in Region Eight, four more in Region Nine so that we’re increasing that complement,” Dr Anthony highlighted.

In December 2022, telemedicine sites were launched in four remote communities in Region Nine. These communities include Masakenari (Gunns Village), Nappi, Parikwarinau, and Yupukari.

Stressing the importance of providing training programmes for persons to maintain medical equipment, the health minister said, “To maintain the computers, the connectivity, and some of the internet-enabled devices, we need people who understand

look at what kind of interactions, interventions [and] innovations to reward and to recognise the community reporters. I think we need citizen anti-corruption reporters to actually give that credibility and importance,” the governance minister added.

The minister also highlighted the value of citizen reporters in holding government and private sector agencies accountable.

She noted that it is imperative that people get value for their money, resources are utilised strategically and transparency and integrity permeate every transaction done in the interest of development.

Another critical aspect of

strengthening the democratic framework is ensuring that the country’s legislative and judicial systems are fully functional and effective. “All this is part of building trust. If our people don’t trust the institutions, they’re not going to share information with you. No matter how much whistleblower legislation you pass, they’re just not going to. So, part of what we do is to build trust that the institutions work fairly and transparently. And this is an important challenge for us,” Minister Teixeira stated.

Established by the Commonwealth Secretariat in 2015, the annual event brings together regulatory bodies, policymakers, heads of anti-corruption bodies,

government officials, and development partners to assess national and regional anti-corruption efforts, and to facilitate interaction among members of the association.

The conference is sponsored by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) and is hosted by a different delegate every year. It enables each country to get a fresh perspective on the impact of its anti-corruption legislation.

The first three days of the conference will see a combination of presentations and panel discussions by experts in anti-corruption fields, and networking events, while a day will be reserved for sightseeing to enjoy the pristine beauty of Guyana.

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security ─ Women’s Innovation and Investment Network’s (WIIN) Women in Business initiative has been yielding positive results, with 48 per cent of participants already gaining employment while another 25 per cent opened businesses.

Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud made the announcement during the opening of the ‘WE LIFT 3’ Exposition at the MovieTowne Tarmac over the weekend.

nomic independence, particularly for single mothers and those from low-income backgrounds.

Minister Persaud also noted that over 4,000 women in the ten administrative regions received training through the initiative. “We have been training women in business. So that does not mean a talk shop; they have to have a business plan at the end of it, and they also have to register their businesses,” Minister Persaud stated.

equivalent to us moving up 18 spots in one year as a country. And what does that signal? That the gender gap is narrowing, we still have a lot of work to do but it’s happening and at a rapid pace and so these are the kinds of statistics that give us the kind of credibility and encouragement,” the minister highlighted.

Some $100 million was allocated in budget 2023 towards the WIIN programme which aims to train 6,000 women in 2023.

how to fix these things and maintain them.”

Additionally, Dr Anthony noted, “We will need some technicians in the area of digital health. That’s a different course that we will have to run and we will have to look for suitable partners who can help us in doing that.”

For the purpose of implementing the telemedicine programme in remote hinterland communities, the government has set aside about $1.8 billion in this year’s budget.

This is in keeping with President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s vision of developing a world-class healthcare system in the country, while utilising technology.

The programme aims to support and empower women, by providing a range of opportunities, including access to employment in the public and private sectors, as well as encouraging eco-

She relayed that the efforts by the government to include women in every aspect of development have been reflected in the report by the World Economic Forum. “All of that was

To date, 10,000 applications have been received by the ministry and Dr Persaud is urging interested agencies/companies to make funding available to train the additional 4,000 women.

40,000 residents to benefit from Eccles Well

TheEccles Well is a major infrastructure and system upgrade project being undertaken by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) to significantly improve the level of service and supply of potable water to residents of Eccles to Providence.

The new well at Eccles will be connected to the Eccles treatment plant via a transmission line.

The well is part of the

Government of Guyana’s massive investment to improve water infrastructure and system upgrades in response to the increasing demand for potable water due to the immense housing development on the East Bank corridor.

It is one of 12 wells being dug this year, and several other projects are being undertaken to deliver treated water to 90 per cent of the

population by 2025.

The Eccles Project is expected to serve some 40,000 residents from Eccles to Providence, and when the well is fully operational, residents can expect a significant improvement to the level of service and quality of water.

The project is being funded by the Government of Guyana to the tune of US$105M. Top of Form.

25 per cent of women trained through WIIN have established businesses

AG dismisses uninformed, premature criticisms of e-ID card contract

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, has deemed as ‘uninformed’ and ‘premature’, calls for the cancellation of the US$35.4 million contract with German-based company, Veridos Identity Solutions for the development of an electronic identification card (e-ID) system in Guyana.

Nandlall clarified that such a move would be

‘unlawful’. He was responding to criticisms made by former Auditor General, Anand Goolsarran who has called on the government to cancel the e-ID contract, as he believes, it breaches the Procurement Act 2003 and the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA).However, Minister Nandlall has made it clear that back peddling on the already

signed contract is an indication of a contractual breach, which can attract litigation and discredit the government’s standing on the international stage.He said calling on the government to unilaterally cancel the contract will be encouraging unlawful acts in governance.

“These public commentators, when they choose to speak on these matters, have to be informed about

the concepts and precepts that they utilise in their public statements … one cannot simply cancel a contract that has been executed [and] signed by two parties,” the attorney general explained.

Minister Nandlall reiterated that the government was acting in conformity with the procurement laws of Guyana when it was determined necessary to sole source the contract.The Procurement Act 2003 permits sole sourcing when the goods or services that are being procured involve matters of national security, in this case, information or

data belonging to the citizenry of Guyana.

Further, he explained that it is the executive that determines issues that are of national security and importance, hence, the sole sourcing of the German-based company for the development of the e-ID card system locally.

“That is why, not any run-off the mill company ought to be awarded or considered for a contract of this type…when one examines the very arguments that these critics are advancing, those arguments qualify this instrument to be one that is so important that it falls into

the category of national security and the appropriate mechanism in the legislation was used in respect of this transaction,” he underscored.

With regards to data protection, the attorney general emphasised that the contract spans over a period, during which the administrative mechanism for how the card will be issued will be developed. Legislation on who qualifies for the card is currently being developed, and Minister Nandlall assured that consultations will be held with the relevant stakeholders on

APA’s motive of preventing the development of...

their engagement as set out in the Strategy, which emphasizes the ongoing nature of village-led village sustainability plans which must be approved following the engagement of villagers. Each year, opportunities will be provided for input.

The APA makes claims that remarks were made in the consultations that were not captured in the 315-page report on the consultation. The APA – like all members of the Steering Committee – were asked to review the 315-page report before it was finalized and to raise any issues and recommend changes.

The APA persists with distortion of facts to make...

← FROM PAGE 22

members of the Steering Committee who led consultations, and gathered input and feedback, the APA never fulfilled this responsibility. After the consultation was completed, other members of the Steering Committee discovered that hundreds of the copies of the LCDS, given to the APA to help with consultation, were sitting in the APA’s headquarters in the city. Yet now the APA raises unspecific complaints about a consultation it did not participate in and seeks to drown out the views and voices of indigenous leaders and other local stakeholders who did take part.

Truth be told, the APA survives by presenting themselves as the ‘saviours’ of the Indigenous Peoples. The only way that they are able to attract certain types of donor financing is by creating a situation of need, and one that warrants them to ‘save the people’.

The APA has a reputation of attracting large sums from a broad range of donor organisations, and there is very little to show for it at the village level. Concerns have been expressed by several Indigenous Villages, that only a minimal amount of that aid goes to villages. The vast majority of this aid allegedly going towards expensive charter flights, high-end hotel bookings, and paying super salaries. The very fact that the APA has no means of income but from grant funding that is secured by painting a role for themselves, shows their agenda. They are able to pay themselves handsomely by showing Guyana in a bad light, by pulling down elected indigenous leaders, and by blocking earned finance to 242 Amerindian Villages. The APA should publish their financial statements from multimillion dollar donor contracts from various development partners and this would undoubtedly reveal many of the concerns that Indigenous Villages have been expressing about the Association.

These are the facts.

1. The APA consulted no one but themselves, flouted FPIC and disrespected village decision structures, in filing its complaint to the ART Secretariat to suspend carbon credits payments to Guyana, especially its indigenous population.

2. The APA has not justified how the stopping of payments to Amerindian Villages would benefit the Villages - specifically credits from 8 years ago (2016).

3. The APA continues to be silent on their track record of use of donor financing totally devoid of transparency and reporting to the constituency they purport to represent.

4. Why should the carbon credit payment to Villages be stopped until the APA says it is okay to proceed? It is unclear as to who has appointed the APA to be chief spokesperson for Indigenous peoples.

5. How can the views of the APA’s office staff, of approximately 10 persons be made to represent a population of Amerindian People of close to 100,000 persons who have elected their own legal representatives under the Amerindian Act?

Reflecting the reality in Guyana, one based on facts, does not serve the APA. The attack by the APA on the Chairman of the NTC, and the carbon credits programme has taken the APA’s narrow self-interest to a more destructive level. This time, they are taking away ‘bread’ from the indigenous peoples and securing their own personal financial standing by doing so.

This must stop. The APA cannot destroy indigenous peoples’ livelihoods and get away with it. The APA must do better and not continue to be driven by political affiliation and their misguided approach to justifying their relevance for the sole purpose of attracting donor financing.

The public should note that the APA opted to absent themselves from those meetings which considered stakeholders’ feedback and later claimed they had the meeting dates confused.

Guyanese citizens – including indigenous peoples and members of local forest communities – have a lot to be proud of in Guyana’s long-standing stewardship of the forests. They are creating a pathway to overcoming difficult issues for which there are no straight-forward answers, and where the world will benefit from these solutions. Most Guyanese stakeholders are demonstrating innovation and dedication in identifying solutions, as well as respect for others who are wholeheartedly participating in the process.

The Office of the Vice President is concerned and disheartened that thousands of citizens across hundreds of indigenous villages and local communities who are working hard to identify how to advance developmental priorities for their people – are totally unaware that the APA has called for the suspension of the finances to fund these priorities they are formulating for their future.

The APA’s recent efforts fall woefully short on transparency

and accountability is needed by the Guyanese public now that they have been called out. The APA should also provide answers, as the Chairman of the NTC has done in his letter to the Editor of the Stabroek Newspapers, has demanded.

The public must be told why the APA is seeking to prevent the process of village planning in each community? Why should this process to develop villages utilizing revenues from the carbon credits programme be frozen? And why would APA, in good faith, prevent Indigenous villages and local communities from accessing carbon credits revenue from 2016 that are already in their bank accounts? What option does the APA offer the 242 villages and communities to meet their most pressing needs, and those they have developed for their own development?

These answers will be hard to come by for the APA, as it reveals their true motive of sacrificing development of Amerindian villages, to foster their political motives. They are not protecting the rights of Amerindian people; the APA is taking that right away from Guyana’s first people.

Office of the Vice President, Hon. Dr. Bharrat

Jagdeo

(Office of the Vice President, Hon. Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo)

the proposed legislation.

“These guys don’t ask any questions but they jump to conclusions. So, both the GHRA and Mr Anand Goolsarran have levelled the allegation that there is no legislation in place, and that allegation

and criticism are premature. Legislation is not in place, neither is the card in place. But by the time the card becomes ready for issue, there will be the appropriate supporting legal framework, an administrative framework

to support the issuance of the card,” he emphasised.

The senior counsel also made it clear that the FMAA was not infringed by the state as alleged by Goolsarran, who said in his statements that funds were not catered for in the

2023 budget.

In this regard, the attorney general lambasted the commentators for speaking on matters without being equipped with the relevant information. The e-ID card will be compliant with 18013-5

of the ISO Standard and will be accepted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for international travel.

Its capabilities are also in keeping with the government’s commitment to promoting e-governance

to improve the productivity of businesses and the delivery of government services through the introduction of e-health, e-education, e-security, e-agriculture, and license processing among other areas.

The APA persists with distortion of facts to make...

representative of Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples.

A strong NTC, which the PPP/C government has always supported, threatens the APA’s machinations. As evidenced by their Press Release of April 18, 2023, they are unrelenting in their unjustified attacks on this representative non-governmental organisation for the sake of defending their financial survival and their affiliation with the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition.

FACT 4: SUSTAINED BUDGETARY SUPPORT FOR SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT AT INDIGENOUS VILLAGE LEVEL

At no time in Guyana’s history have Amerindians had more support than when successive PPP/C administrations have been in office.

The PPP/C Government

has a strong track record of investments in Indigenous Villages in areas of health, education, infrastructure, ICT access, hinterland electricity, and water supply. Every village is engaged in the process of identifying needs and those needs are progressively met in annual budgetary allocations. Additional to this, Presidential Grants, and now earned revenues from carbon credits sales would further add to village development.

From August 2020, the PPP/C has allocated billions to Amerindian development, which allowed for: increase in the presidential grants to villages; provision of agricultural support via trailers and tractors; and the 1,972 Community Service Officers (CSOs) who were terminated by the APNU+AFC Coalition government, with silent concurrence of the APA, have

been rehired by the PPP/C government; restoring over $700million to Amerindian villages, and the complement of CSOs has since increased to 2,500. In 2023, alone, billions are budgeted for the completion of 10 new schools in Amerindian villages and four new major hospitals; as well as a $5billion special allocation.

These are facts that the APA avoid because these facts do not support the fallacies that they peddle. Rather, the deception that they have stood by are being exposed; the NTC Chair has done so in his letter to the Editor on April 15, 2023, and the PPC/s Government has done so on several occasions.

FACT 5: RESPECT FOR FPIC

The PPP/C Government has always emphasized the

Co-operative Republic of Guyana MINISTRY OF AMERINDIAN AFFAIRS

INVITATION FOR BIDS (IFB)

Ministry of Amerindian Affairs hereinafter referred to as “the Procuring Entity” invites interested bidders to submit their bids for the:

• Supply and Delivery of Twenty - Six (26) Reconditioned Mini Buses: Lots 1-3

• Supply and Delivery of Five (5) Reconditioned Canter Trucks

Interested eligible bidders may purchase bidding documents from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs at the address below from 8:00 hours to 16:30 hours - Mondays to Thursdays and on Friday from 8:00 hours to 15:30 hours, at the cost of Two Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars – ($2,500.00) each which is non-refundable. The method of payment will be Cash.

1. All bidders should submit their bids no later than 09:00 hours on 03rd day of May, 2023 at the address below:

The Chairman

National Procurement and Tender Administration Board

Ministry of Finance

49 Main and Urquhart Streets

Georgetown

For Purchasing of Bid Documents:

Accounts Department

Ministry of Amerindian Affairs

251-252 Thomas and Quamina Streets

Georgetown

Please note for submission of tender bidders are required to:

- Submit one (1) hardcopy and an electronic copy (flash drive only) with an exact PDF version of the hard copy tender.

- Ensure the envelope of the hardcopy and the electronic copy are identically labeled.

- The electronic copy (flash drive) should be placed in a smaller envelope and properly affixed to the hardcopy submission.

Closing date for submission of Bids will be o3rd May, 2023 at 9:00am. Bids will be opened in the presence of bidders’ or their representatives who attend on Thursday, 03rd May, 2023 at 9:00am.

important role of consultations with Indigenous Villages.

In relation to the LCDS 2030 consultation, the consultation started in October 2021, and remained open for the entire duration of the ART-TREES consultation period and was not closed until after the (extended) ART-TREES consultation period was closed. The LCDS consultation was extended to seven months, and the LCDS 2030 was only finalised in July 2022, well after the ART-TREES consultation period had concluded. All input from those who participated in the national consultation, including on ART-TREES and benefit sharing, was taken on board.

Only when all these processes were completed did Guyana move ahead with the final stages of issuing credits

for 2016-2020. All of this was publicly communicated throughout the process, and more in-depth conversations took place with a wide range of stakeholders, including elected representatives of indigenous peoples and those who participated in the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee.

There is now significant support for turning this progress into practical results and impact for indigenous peoples and local communities across the country, who have already received a total of US$22.5 million and are following their own village-led processes to determine whether and how to deploy these resources for the betterment of their own villages and communities.

CONCLUSION

For over two years, the

APA has been invited to participate in, and to help lead, consultations across Guyana concerning the LCDS and ART-TREES. However, the APA was very selective in engaging in the consultation that it has now raised grievances about.

Further, the APA was asked to join other stakeholders on the LCDS Communications Sub-Committee– yet did not attend meetings or participate in any way. They neglected – even when asked – to come up with suggestions on addressing some challenges such as identifying translators fluent in local languages, thereby leaving this work to others.

Furthermore, the APA was asked – like other members of the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee - to lead consultations. Unlike other TURN TO PAGE 19 →

Co-operative Republic of Guyana MINISTRY OF AMERINDIAN AFFAIRS INVITATION

FOR BIDS (IFB)

Ministry of Amerindian Affairs hereinafter referred to as “the Procuring Entity” invites interested bidders to submit their bids for the:

• Supply and Delivery of Eighteen (18) New Outboard Engines, Lots 1-5.

1. Interested eligible bidders may purchase bidding documents from the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs at the address below from 8:00 hours to 16:30 hours - Mondays to Thursdays and on Friday from 8:00 hours to 15:30 hours, at the cost of Two Thousand, Five Hundred Dollars – ($2,500.00) each which is non-refundable. The method of payment will be Cash.

2. All bidders should submit their bids no later than 09:00 hours on 04th day of May, 2023 at the address below:

The Chairman

National Procurement and Tender Administration Board

Ministry of Finance

49 Main and Urquhart Streets

Georgetown

For Purchasing of Bid Documents:

Accounts Department

Ministry of Amerindian Affairs

251-252 Thomas and Quamina Streets

Georgetown

Please note for submission of tender bidders are required to:

- Submit one (1) hardcopy and an electronic copy (flash drive only) with an exact PDF version of the hard copy tender.

- Ensure the envelope of the hardcopy and the electronic copy are identically labeled.

- The electronic copy (flash drive) should be placed in a smaller envelope and properly affixed to the hardcopy submission.

Closing date for submission of Bids will be o4th May, 2023 at 9:00am. Bids will be opened in the presence of bidders’ or their representatives who choose to attend on Thursday, 04th May, 2023 at 9:00am.

Permanent Secretary

Ministry of Amerindian Affairs

Permanent Secretary

Ministry of Amerindian Affairs

COMMENTARY

The APA persists with distortion of facts to make itself relevant for the purpose of grant funding

… secret attempts by the APA to deprive Indigenous Villages of progress must stop

TheAmerindian Peoples Association (APA) issued a release dated April 18, 2023, attacking the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) and its Chairman, Derrick John, a respected Toshao of an Indigenous Village in Guyana. In the same Release the APA attempts to also target Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, after being exposed for attempting to block finances from going to Amerindian Villages.

This attack on the NTC Chairman, who was unanimously elected by Toshaos of over 200 Amerindian communities, should be strongly denounced. The APA may not like what the NTC’s Chairman revealed in his Letter to the Editor dated April 15, 2023, as the Council called out the APA for filing a secret objection to the ART Secretariat, the international certifying body for Guyana’s carbon credits, without the prior knowledge or consent of the Indigenous people. This personal attack on the NTC Chair reveals the APA’s unravelling struggle to deflect from difficult questions including, its inability to explain how would suspending the process for Guyana’s credits issued for 2016 to 2020 help our Amerindian People fulfil the plans and projects they have developed for their own advancement. The APA has not answered this question because they cannot find an answer that makes sense or that is truthful.

Being unable to rely on facts, the APA resorts to disputing issues such as the number of LCDS 2030 documents they received, while avoiding the substantive issue of the overall consultations with thousands of Amerindians; disputing how many meetings they managed to attend, while avoiding the fact that there was broad-based engagement; and waxing lyrical about the structure of Minutes of meetings, while avoiding their non-existent contributions to those meetings.

The APA purports to project itself as the sole arbiter of what is right and good for Indigenous People and the sole fighter for the progress and development

of Amerindian communities. However, the facts expose this deception, and the Guyanese populace is intelligent and well versed in matters that affect them.

The fact is that under Amerindians in Guyana, under successive PPP/C governments, have made the most progress in every sphere of their lives. The track record of the PPP/C on Indigenous Peoples issues is unquestionable as summarized in the few points below:

FACT 1: STRONG COMMITMENT TO INDIGENOUS LAND TITLING UNDER THE PPP/C GOVERNMENT

Land titling has moved from 6 per cent in 1992 to 14 per cent by 2014, and from August 2020 the process has been resumed and is progressing. Successive PPP/C Governments have stood in strong support of indigenous land titling and have the track record to show for it. While Indigenous people in many countries have right of use of the Land only, in Guyana where the Indigenous People account for approximately 9.7 per cent of the population, Amerindians own land including the forests resources within their Titled Lands.

The APA has lied about the land titling programme and has made every effort to stall the process over 20162020. When asked about the Land titling project by the Stabroek News, the APA’s Governance Coordinator, Laura George, was exposed for lying that the land titling project started under the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition government. When confronted with the facts at the last National Toshaos’ Council Meeting in July 2022, she claimed that the Stabroek News misquoted her, a claim that the Stabroek News has since disproved.

The APA remained silent when the APNU+AFC Coalition’s Keith Scott dubbed Amerindians of Guyana as “avaricious” or greedy in no place less than the National Assembly – a comment that was made after the National Toshaos’ Council (NTC) called on the Coalition to deliver on its promises and advance the Amerindian Land

Titling programme. The APA also remained silent when Amerindians were told by the PNCR-led Coalition that if they benefited from lands, they would have to forego benefits from Guyana’s oil and gas resources. The APA said nothing when there were widespread objections to the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into ancestral and indigenous land – objections grounded in fear of a return to the pre-1992 disposition where Amerindian land rights were not a priority.

A summary of the situation regarding land titling should capture the following relevant facts:

• When democracy was restored in Guyana in 1992 –bringing to an end 28 years of PNCR-led dictatorship – a total of 74 villages, approximately 6% of Guyana’s territory, were titled but many had not been demarcated.

• From 1992 to 2010, demarcation proceeded for the 74 villages and a further 22 were titled along with reformed legislation (including the 2006 Amerindian Act) and an improved policy/ regulatory framework built around village-led process including elected representatives (Toshaos and Village Councils)

• In 2009, the original LCDS conceptualised the Amerindian Land Titling Project, which would address all outstanding titling requests, utilising money received under the Guyana-Norway Agreement and implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

• In 2013, the project started, and during the periods 2013-2015, and 2020 to date, a total of 24 villages were demarcated. This is out of an overall project total of 28 demarcations to date.

• The 24 villages demarcated under the PPP/C led Government, including the two Certificates of Title prepared this year translates to 5,477 square miles or 1,418,741 hectares of legally held Amerindian lands.

• During the period 20152020, when the PNCR-led Coalition was once again in Government, only 2 were hurriedly given their certifi-

cates of title after the passage of the no-confidence motion. The APA supported this slow and diminished approach of the land titling project and proffered no criticism during this period.

FACT 2: SUSTAINED SUPPORT FOR THE AMERINDIAN ACT AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS BY THE

PPP/C

Guyana is one of the first countries in this region, and one of the few in the world, to have dedicated legislation for indigenous peoples. Successive PPP/C Administrations have prioritized constitutional protections, legislative support and created institutions that bring greater rights and benefits to Indigenous people, empower governance and decision making at the village level and support regional and national representation of indigenous people’s rights through the NTC.

The Amerindian Act 2006 charts a clear pathway for securing land titling for Indigenous Villages and empowers villages to plan for the development through a process of self-determination. The Act also outlines the role of the National Toshaos Council in representing Amerindian people. These legislative provisions have all been mainstreamed in the forest carbon credits programme. The Act allocates sub-surface rights for small and medium scale mining operations to Amerindian villages.

The APA, instead of supporting the facilitation of conditions needed for greater rights and benefits, quietly conspired with the APNU+AFC Coalition to redefine what is indigenous, to include non-Amerindian communities – a move that would have set back the rights of Indigenous people. It was the PPP/C that led the fight to resist this.

The PPP/C Government has also led the way in creating constitutional provisions for the establishment of the Indigenous Peoples Commission (IPC), a landmark move that underscores the importance our Government

places on indigenous peoples’ development ensuring that it is at the highest level of the Constitution. It must be noted that it was under the former government, with which the APA is aligned, that there was a move to reduce the representation of elected Amerindian leaders on the IPC. According to a Committee of Appointment report, brought to the National Assembly in March 2018 by the former Administration, moves were afoot to reduce Amerindian representation on the 15-member Commission to 30 per cent – meaning that of the 15 members, three representatives are from the National Toshaos Council. It was the PPP/C that resisted this effort and withheld support, where a two-third majority vote was needed in Parliament, to stave off this move. Again, here, the APA was silent.

FACT 3: EMPOWERING INDIGENOUS LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE NTC

The Amerindian Act outlines the role of the NTC to represent the Indigenous peoples of Guyana. The NTC is the national body that represents all Indigenous Villages in Guyana, as set out in the legislation that governs Indigenous Peoples matters in Guyana: The Amerindian Act 2006. Part IV, Sections 38-43 of the Act outline the Role and Functions of the National Toshaos’ Council. Toshaos and Village Councils (the wider body elected to manage the affairs of the village which is headed by the village Toshao) are elected at the village level in keeping with Part III of the Amerindian Act. Toshaos then represent their villages at meetings of the NTC.

Among the functions of the NTC as detailed in Part IV of the Amerindian Act, is to: “coordinate and integrate the activities of the villages on a national basis” as stated in Section 41 (h), and “to prepare strategies and plans for the protection, conservation and sustainable management of village lands and natural resources” as stated in Section 41 (e). By virtue of the provisions of Part IV of the Act including Section 41 (h), collectively these legislatively enshrine the powers of the NTC, to lead on, guide

and endorse the LCDS and approach to carbon financing in Guyana.

At the annual NTC Conference in July 2022, all elected Toshaos present (over 170 leaders in attendance) engaged with the LCDS team who joined discussions on the Strategy and plans for the next phase. These discussions included reviewing the output of the consultations and the process for, and progress on, issuing and marketing carbon credits.

A resolution was passed by the full NTC, with no objection, endorsing the LCDS 2030 inclusive of all its elements. The Government and the NTC Chairman emphasized the need for Toshaos to stay involved as implementation of the LCDS 2030 moves ahead, village plans are prepared or updated, and new opportunities arise.

In addition to frequent engagements with the NTC and other leaders, the Government of Guyana consulted with the NTC and all leaders of indigenous villages across the country in February 2023 to update them on the process of marketing and sale of Guyana’s carbon credits under the ART TREES programme. The mechanism for disbursement of forest carbon funds to communities was discussed, inclusive of the amounts to be received by each community and the systems they would put in place to manage and account for the funds.

As of March 2023, villages across the country have chosen to ensure their village plans are ready for the investment of 15% of the money earned from the sale of Guyana’s ART-TREES credits. The remainder of the revenue is being invested in multi-community and national programmes and projects and this is an uncapped sum. All of this has been discussed in detail with all of the indigenous leaders who fully agreed to this process.

The APA appears to feel threatened by the NTC which is why they have pursued an attack on the Council and the Chairman. Whilst they are quiet on the fact that they have a support based of a scattering of villages across 2 regions of Guyana, they often attempt to usurp the role of the NTC – the legitimate

Gov’t open to criticism, unfounded claims of discrimination will be exposed – PM Phillips

As Guyana sees continuous modernisation, investment and large-scale development, the PPP/C Government has vowed to pay keen attention to any reports of marginalisation as part of its mandate to ensure

that every single Guyanese, regardless of race, religion, or location, benefits.

During a recent media engagement, Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, stressed a zero-tolerance policy for discrimi -

nation, highlighting that the country’s resources, as well as the revenue from the oil and gas industry, are meant to foster development for all Guyanese.

He was at the time, addressing a question regard -

ing concerns of marginalisation on the basis of ethnicity or geographical location.

“Wherever there appears to be marginalisation or reports of marginalisation, we will investigate those reports, and if those reports

have any substance, the corrective actions will be taken. We are a government that is open to criticism, and whatever the criticism, we are committed to investigating and taking corrective action,” he declared.

According to him, where claims of discrimination and marginalisation are unfounded, they will be exposed.

USE OF RESOURCES

He highlighted that the government has meticulously crafted a development plan for the utilisation of oil and gas resources, one that sees heavy investment in infrastructure, health, education, housing, and human resource. Phillips said, “What we want to do is utilise the revenue to improve the way people live throughout Guyana. In five years, Guyana will be much different from what you are seeing now.”

Further, the Prime Minister assured that the government has instituted the legal and regulatory framework to effectively manage the influx of revenue, saying, “In areas that are considered weak, we are open to advise from other countries, we are open to recruiting experts to work on our behalf to improve whatever we are doing.”

Moreover, a key example of how the government intends to sustainably use the revenue from the oil and gas sector is the gas-to-energy project, which will cut electricity costs by more than half, as Guyana transitions to a cheaper and more sustainable natural gas reserve. Part of the project will see the construction of a natural gas liquid (NGL) plant, which will be designed to separate the natural gas liquids such as ethane and propane, and refine them into high-value products, such as gasoline. The project is set to significantly lower the cost of electricity, triggering rapid growth in industrial activity, and promoting a smooth transition to renewable energy sources countrywide. “All these projects are aimed at making Guyana more investor-friendly, and modernising our country. So, when you look around at where Guyana was five years ago, and where we will be five years from now, we will be on par or perhaps even ahead of some neighbouring countries in the Caribbean and South America,” Phil-

lips added.

RACE CARD

Last week, PPP General Secretary, Bharrat Jagdeo, rubbished comments by Opposition Leader’s comments and charge that they expose the mindset of the PNCRled APNU+AFC Coalition. Jagdeo said, “First of fall they say we are not giving Afro-Guyanese contracts. But if an Afro-Guyanese gets a contract, suddenly they are stooges of the PPP. If they (Afro-Guyanese) chose, like the people in New Amsterdam did – a number of people chose – to switch sides and become candidates for the PPP, they are stooges. So, his (Norton’s problem) is a bigger issue. He doesn’t want Afro-Guyanese to progress in this country, so that it can fit his jaundiced narrative of discrimination. So they will come out hard against any bright progressive Afro-Guyanese because they disprove their (APNU+AFC’s) theory that the PPP/C is racist party. Because you can make progress, as an Afro-Guyanese, under a PPP government. And that is the problem he has here.”

Jagdeo rubbished the PNCR-led Coalition’s rationale of wanting Afro-Guyanese not to make progress in life in order to score political points and fuel their campaign of division.

“For the simple reason, that they (APNU+AFC) can go an campaign that the PPP is discriminatory, they would prefer that Afro-Guyanese not make progress in this country,” he charged.

Moving forward, Jagdeo noted that the APNU+AFC Coalition must drop racism as a tool and get on board with a national development agenda – all in the interest of all Guyanese across the entire country.

“It is a dead end if they don’t drop the racism… there is room for inclusion, providing that you work for the people…you can’t bully people and you can’t lie to people….currently, we have an ineffective Opposition Leader…more often than not, he has a shallow understanding of crucial sectors,” Jagdeo said at a prior news conference.

Unsubstantiated and wildly irresponsible claims – all worded along lines to stir tensions among Guyanese continue to be peddled by leaders of the PNCR-led APNU+AFC Coalition.