With General and Regional Elections on the horizon, former Member of Parliament Annette Ferguson has accused the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration of deliberately evading parliamentary scrutiny over US$75 million received from Guyana’s carbon credit deal with Hess Corporation.
Ferguson, a former parliamentarian with A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), called the government’s conduct “a blatant disregard for transparency and accountability,” noting its persistent failure to disclose details about the landmark deal announced in January 2023 under the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) framework.
Unanswered Questions, Repeated Deferrals
Ferguson submitted a formal set of questions to the Clerk of the National Assembly on December 12, 2024, seeking clarity on how the carbon credit funds were received, disbursed, and allocated. The questions first appeared on the Order Paper on January 23, 2025, and resurfaced during the 104th Sitting on May 23.
However, when answers were due, Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, requested more time, months after the original submission. Speaker Manzoor Nadir granted the extension, prompting criticism from Ferguson, who argued that the government had more than enough time to respond.
At the 105th Sitting on June 2, the questions reappeared but were marked with asterisks and a footnote citing Standing Order No. 22(9), which allows a deferral of up to 12 days. Ferguson noted the timing was no coincidence, as Parliament was expected to dissolve ahead of the September 1 General and Regional lection. “No such deferral note appeared in the prior sitting,” she said, adding she was not allowed to seek clarification.
“A Calculated Suppression of Accountability”
Ferguson labeled the use of parliamentary procedure at the final sitting a “calculated maneuver to suppress accountability.” She described it as part of a broader pattern of obfuscation and secrecy that has eroded public trust and weakened democratic oversight.
“The PPP/C administration deliberately avoided answering critical questions on the US$75 million carbon credit funds,” she stated. “This is not procedural formality—it’s strategic avoidance.”
To support her claim, Ferguson referenced Order Paper records from the 105th Sitting, including both the questions submitted and the deferral invoked.
Raising the Stakes Ahead of Elections
As the election campaign intensifies, Ferguson has called on voters to take stock of the government’s record. Guyanese deserve leadership that’s transparent and accountable, she said. The former minister has called on voters to reject the current culture of impunity and demand responsible management of public funds.
The carbon credit deal, once seen as a climate finance breakthrough, now risks becoming a major flashpoint in the election narrative—especially as questions over governance and transparency take center stage in the final weeks before the polls.
