“It was a highly successful meeting.” So said the Members of Parliament (MP) of the A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) who met the United States (U.S) Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) on Thursday September 28, 2023 on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.
In a release, the coalition opposition said at a difficult time for the U.S Congress, as legislators voted to stave off a nationwide shut down in the country, it was remarkable that amidst critical voting, CBC members found it of vital importance to meet with the Guyana delegation of legislators.
Discussions between the two sides centered on governance issues, elections in Guyana, developments in the local oil and gas sector and the opposition’s position on recent pronouncements from Venezuela, the coalition stated.
High on the agenda was the delegations’ request for CBC’s support with regards to articulating the necessity for the compilation of a new voters list prior to the next General Elections in Guyana. This was a call supported by many Guyanese, Commonwealth, OAS and Caricom observer groups and even by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) prior to 2020.
The MPs contended amendments to the current law could easily be facilitated, provided that government had the necessary political will. Biometrics at the place of poll to reduce the occurrence of fraud which existed in the 2020 elections results was also discussed as an important way of engendering greater confidence in election results and to enhance the work of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
The Guyanese legislators also raised with their U.S counterparts issues of governance in the context of Article 13 of the Constitution of Guyana and its admonishment for the creation of an “inclusive democracy”.
Article expressly states: “The principal objective of the system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.”
In July 2022 U.S Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in separate meetings with President Irfaan Ali, made the call for the Government to practice “inclusive democracy” and ensure “economic development” for all Guyanese.
Destruction of the guardrails of democracy
The U.S legislators were also informed of the destruction of the guardrails of democracy taking place in Guyana by the PPP government. Among those raised are regular absenteeism of the government side from parliament which has resulted in the cancellation of 15 Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meetings, the infrequent meetings of Parliament, and the overall lack of transparency and accountability and exclusion of the Opposition in the decision making of the State. The MPs cited these instances as cementing fears that Guyana is fast moving to a one-party autocratic State.
The PAC is very an important committee given its responsibility to oversee government spending. The public continues to express concern about government and what is perceived as the absence of system to ensure proper accountability. Analysts and man-in-the-streets have expressed concerns, particularly about the various cash grants distribution which are being done via cash do not voucher or cheques and the absence of proper accounting system to trace the distributions and recipients.
The APNU+AFC government did invite the then opposition PPP to participate in state boards, a practice the PPP discontinued when it returned to government.
Oil and gas revenue, spending and accountability
In articulating the parliamentary opposition’s vision for Guyana, the Guyanese legislators advised the current U.S billions of dollars in oil revenues being allocated to mega infrastructure projects should be directed into the pockets of ordinary Guyanese, the majority of whom still live below the poverty line.
A 2022 World Bank Fact Sheet on Guyana said 48 percent of Guyanese are living on less than US$5.50 (G$1200.00) per day, and whilst the country’s wealth is increasing poverty is expanding. In 2023 Guyana’s revenue from oil and gas is projected to be US$1.63 billion. Last week the Ministry of Finance announced the government’s fifth withdrawal from the Natural Resource Fund, which amounts to another US$50 million, the equivalent of G$10.4 billion.
The U.S legislators were also brought up to date with the recent IHS Markit audit in which US$214 million was claimed as cost recoverable expenses, which was subsequently reduced to US$3 million. The Opposition MPs highlighted this matter as evidence of gross incompetence in the management of the sector and mere snapshot of the massive corruption in the sector.
Venezuela/Guyana border controversy
On the Venezuela issue, the delegation articulated its strong support for Government’s position on the border controversy which is currently engaging the International Court of Justice.
Last month the Venezuela’s National Assembly green-lighted a referendum regarding territorial controversy with Guyana.
Venezuela has rejected Guyana’s recent oil tender, arguing that the offshore blocks awarded are in disputed areas and that companies awarded the blocks will not have rights to explore them. Since the announcement Venezuela has attracted condemnation from regional and international organisations and countries, including the U.S.
Congressional Black Caucus “acutely aware” what’s happening
The APNU+AFC parliamentary delegation presented the CBC with a comprehensive dossier with several appendices related to all the matters raised during the discussions. Both sides agreed to keep the channels of communication open.
The Guyanese legislators said the CBC leaders informed them that they were “acutely aware” of the situation in which Guyana currently exists and were eager to hear the opposition’s plans for a better Guyana. The delegation took the opportunity to highlight their plans for constitutional, social and infrastructure advancement.
The APNU +AFC said at no stage in the meeting was proof of racial discrimination in Guyana raised or requested.
U.S and Guyana Legislators
Members of the CBC who received and met with the team included Chairman, Congressman Steven Horsford; First Vice Chairman, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke; Democratic Leader in Congress, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries; Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Congresswoman Stacy Plaskett; and Congressman Gregory Meeks.
The Guyana delegation which was led by Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton and Chairman of the Alliance for Change Catherine Hughes, included Members of Parliament (MPs) Roysdale Forde S.C, Amanza Walton-Desir, Dawn Hastings-Williams, Deonarine “Ricky” Ramsaroop, Sherod Duncan and Ganesh Mahipaul. David Patterson, MP was unable to attend the September 28th meeting as he was prevented from leaving the country “by a vindictive and illegal act carried out by the PPP government.”
Patterson was told he could not leave the country after he was cleared by Custom and Immigration. The MP said he was sitting in the Department Lounge when he was approached by an immigration officer and told a mistake was made and he was on the no flight list. He was eventually allowed to leave, after much public outcries, the MP instructed his lawyers to peruse a case against the state, and the police apologised. Patterson arrived in time to participate on Thursday in the two-day conference.
The Washington Conference
The MPs also participated in the two-day Conference organised by the U.S-based Caribbean Guyana Institute For Democracy (CGID) and other organisations, that was held in Washington D.C. under the theme “Promoting Inclusive Governance And Economic Growth, Equal Justice, Social Equality & Sustainable Development For All Guyanese In The Era Of Oil And Gas.”
The conference was convened amidst concerns by the Guyanese diaspora that U.S policy on Guyana has not sufficiently promoted American values such as inclusive governance; inclusive growth; equal justice; social equality and sustainable development for all Guyanese.
Organisers expressed concern the oil and gas revenues are not used equitably for the benefit and upliftment of all Guyanese, and billions of dollars in Government contracts go mostly East Indian supporters of the PPP Government, essentially shutting out African Guyanese, and ensuring the transfer of State wealth to one ethnicity.
Matters relating to corruption, the exclusion of the political opposition and harassment of their leaders and supporters were also raised. Organisers also shared there is a prevailing view in Guyana and the diaspora the U.S government is unbothered that racial discrimination and racism appear to drive the PPP’s government policies and practices.
