The International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana (IDPADA-G) highlighted the African situation at the 32nd Session of the United Nations (UN) Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. The event was held in Geneva, Switzerland from May 1st – 5th and saw participation from civil society leaders from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and North America focused on the Economic Empowerment of people of African descent.
In addition to the formal discussions of the working group, IDPADA-G, took the opportunity of the global network of civil society organisations in attendance to convene a separate panel discussion at the UN entitled: Guyana Today: African Descendants fight for survival in a multi-ethnic society.
IDPADA-G CEO, Olive Sampson and Attorney Nigel Hughes presented information on the current state of the African Guyanese community, the work of IDPADA-G, the status of funding, and plans to continue pursuing their mission of achieving the goals of the Decade.
Last year the Government withdrew the subvention from the organisation even though approved in the 2022 National Budget. The organisation has since taken the government to court over its refusal to pay its $8 million monthly subvention. The court is yet to make a decision.
This year IDPADA-G received no funding from the Government.
IDPADA-G, in a release, made known during the lively questions and answer session they hosted at the UN participants explored in greater depth the current state of the African Guyanese community, Guyana’s history of ethnic division and the resurgence in Guyana of the neo-colonial strategy of weaponising these divisions for wealth accumulation.
At a second side event for representatives of several countries visited by the Working Group, IDPADA-G advisor, and lead consultant on the development of the organisation’s Strategic Plan, responded to participants’ interest in IDPADA-G’s work and how it could serve as a model to be replicated by African communities across the Diaspora.
For more on IDPADA-G visit https://www.facebook.com/IDPADAG
