The Alliance For Change (AFC), in a blistering critique of the government’s attitude that led to Guyana defaulting on producing the country’s 2020 Report to the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI), has accused the government of failing to make any credible efforts to correct the situation.
The party said it is concerned the government has not made any credible efforts to commence preparation of the overdue 2020 Guyana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (GYEITI) Report so that the new deadline will be reached. Government has been given a grace period up to July 31, 2023 to produce the 2020 Report
Last month, the public was informed via Stabroek News that Guyana had failed to meet the extended deadline to submit its 2020 report to the EITI.
President Irfaan Ali used his Facebook page to blame the Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) with explicit reference to two civic members of the group as being responsible for the delay.
Since the publication on Ali’s facebook feed, the two accused members – Vanda Radzik and Mike McCormack, have given their views on the situation, stated the AFC. “However, it appears that political attempts were being made to dictate some of the report’s content, which runs contrary to the standards and practice of EITI.”
The AFC warned that this is not the way to encourage public confidence in the administration of our public affairs. Furthermore, the party said it had previously warned that the current leadership of GYEITI could not carry out the organisation’s mandate and called for reinstating elements of the previous administration. “We still believe that changes are necessary to fulfil the organisation’s mandate.”
The party, in a previous statement, had said the Dr Rudy Jadupat-led Secretariat assisted the Multi-Stakeholder Group and the Independent Administrator in the successful setting up of the GYEITI in 2017, and completion of three Reports, namely, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
When compared to the work of the Jadupat-led Secretariat, the party pointed out, the Prem Misir Secretariat has led Guyana into suspension.
Misir’s talents, said the AFC, reside not in transparency, nor in the operations of the various Protocols and Standards of EITI which demand transparency.
The party made it known it is also calling on the ABCE Heads of Missions to insist on releasing the report, stating it is in everyone’s interest for Guyana to comply with its obligation of membership and for public interest transparency. “The silence of the ABCE missions on this matter is of concern since, over time, they have been quick to pronounce on issues of national import.”
The party said it noted, however, that in November 2017, the Donald Trump administration withdrew the United States (US) from the EITI. “At the time, the US Congress removed the ‘resource extraction rule’, which required companies like Exxon Mobil to disclose taxes and other fees paid to a foreign government. For example, if this rule remained, EXXON would have had to reveal ALL payments made to the government of Guyana.”
At the time of the US withdrawal, it was pointed out, Senators Ben Cardin (Democratic) and Dick Lugar (Republican), had described the move as favourable to ‘Big Oil and Gas – money and Influence’.
The AFC has called on President Ali to insist on releasing the GYEITI 2020 Report, which is overdue.
