Alliance for Change (AFC) Party Leader Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, the leader of AFC, today briefed members of the media during a virtual press engagement, on his party and team’s meeting with a high-profile delegation from the Organisation of World Leaders (OWL) led by the Honourable Dr. Dee Dawkins-Haigler and co-led by Representative John King of South Carolina, US Senators, US House of Representatives, Activists, and other distinguished members.
The AFC leader presented in his report revealing what he described as deeply ingrained ethnic and political discrimination carried out by the incumbent People’s Progressive Party Civic) (PPP) Government in Guyana.
The fact-finding team, assembled by Dr. Dee Dawkins-Haigler, according to AFC Leader Ramjattam was presented with a comprehensive dossier illustrating instances of discrimination in the awarding of contracts, arbitrary termination of public servants’ contracts, appointments of senior posts at the State level, and the distribution of State resources.
The evidence presented by AFC, he asserts, highlighted that allegations of the discriminatory practices were not isolated incidents but had deep roots, as indicated by sources such as Freddie Kissoon’s “Ethnic Power and Ideological Racism,” the UN McDougall Report, and Nigel Hughes’ “Economy and Justice in Guyana.”
Among the documents presented were responses from IDPADA-G to the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, as well as materials submitted by Members of Parliament (MPs) Juretha Fernandes and Ricky Ramsaroop, revealing imbalances and inequity in budgetary allocations at the Regional Democratic levels.
One of the alarming revelations, according to Ramjattan, concerned the lack of transparency and accountability by the PPP/c Government in various relief programs, including COVID-19 relief, Fisherman’s Relief, second severance payment to sugar workers, and Flood relief, among other similar initiatives. The AFC’s leader additionally, used the occasion to also point out that since 2021, the government has concealed crucial information regarding the recipients of these relief programs, raising concerns of massive discrimination against Afro Guyanese and political opponents.
Furthermore, the AFC leadership accused the PPP Government of hindering democratic processes by cancelling over 20 Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sittings, showcasing what they described as a developing elective despotism. The fact-finding team assured the AFC leadership of continued engagement via Zoom to gather more information and clarity on these pressing matters.
In response, the AFC leadership expressed their unwavering commitment to transparency and pledged to cooperate fully with the OWL delegation. They thanked the delegation for their visit and expressed hope that this collaboration would lead to positive changes in addressing the documented discriminatory practices and lack of transparency in the PPP Government.(592Xpress)
