Court Victory for IDPADA-G Sparks Fresh Criticism of Govt’s Four-Year Funding Freeze

Political commentator GHK Lall says the High Court’s decision ordering the restoration of state funding to the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly–Guyana (IDPADA-G) amounts to a judicial repudiation of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C0 government’s four-year handling of the organisation, arguing that the administration pursued a campaign that was “morally,” “ethically” and “politically” wrong.

In his latest column, “IDPADA-G: the arc of the moral universe,” Lall contends that the government’s decision to withhold IDPADA-G’s annual subvention was driven by political considerations rather than legitimate concerns over governance.

“Something always struck me as wrong with how the PPP Govt dealt with the subvention for the folks at the International Decade for the People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana (IDPADA-G),” Lall wrote. “Morally wrong. Ethically wrong. Politically wrong.”

His commentary follows this week’s ruling by Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire, who found the government’s decision to withhold the organisation’s funding to be unlawful and unconstitutional, ordering that the subvention be restored.

The dispute dates back to 2022, when the government discontinued IDPADA-G’s annual state subvention after commissioning a forensic audit into the organisation’s operations. Government officials alleged that the audit uncovered governance and financial irregularities that justified withholding public funds.

IDPADA-G denied the allegations, maintaining that the audit’s findings were flawed and that the decision to terminate funding was politically motivated and discriminatory. The organisation subsequently challenged the decision in the High Court, arguing that the withdrawal of funding violated its constitutional rights.

IDPADA-G was established as Guyana’s coordinating body for the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent (2015–2024), a global initiative proclaimed by the UN General Assembly to promote recognition, justice and development for people of African descent.

The Decade called on governments to confront the legacy of slavery and colonialism, combat racial discrimination, strengthen institutions serving Afro-descendant communities and support programmes that advance education, economic empowerment, cultural preservation and equal opportunity.

In Guyana, IDPADA-G has implemented initiatives focused on youth development, entrepreneurship, education, cultural heritage, research, advocacy and community empowerment. Supporters of the organisation have argued that the government’s decision to withdraw funding disrupted programmes intended to benefit Afro-Guyanese communities and undermined Guyana’s commitment to the objectives of the UN Decade.

Lall argues that the government’s actions extended far beyond financial oversight.

“The PPP Govt came out with a barrage of broadsides. All with intent to cripple. To put IDPADA-G out to pasture,” he wrote.

He further alleged that the administration relied on “preconceived audit conclusions,” “fabricated audit claims and assaults,” and sought to criminalise the organisation in an effort to justify withholding its funding.

According to Lall, the prolonged withholding of funding not only targeted IDPADA-G as an institution but also deprived thousands of Afro-Guyanese of programmes and opportunities the organisation was established to deliver.

Lall reserved some of his sharpest criticism for Vice President and PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, suggesting the government’s approach could not be attributed to ignorance or poor judgment.

“I believe that PPP General Secretary and government vice president, Dr. Jagdeo knew all of that, and yet…. How could a man of his agile mind… claim to be ignorant of such basic wisdom? Yet, he persisted,” Lall wrote.

He also questioned the role of Attorney General Anil Nandlall, arguing that the government’s chief legal adviser should have discouraged the administration from pursuing the matter through the courts.

“An attorney general possessing some sliver of the right stuff, should be able to stand his ground and say: goddammit, don’t go there. Don’t tamper with what should be left alone,” he wrote.

According to Lall, the High Court’s ruling represents more than a legal victory for IDPADA-G—it is a vindication of the organisation’s longstanding claim that it had been unfairly targeted.

“It was Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), the well-named, Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire who looked down her nose, and still couldn’t believe the horror before her,” Lall wrote, adding that the judge “was having none of this tomfoolery, these palpable shenanigans.”

Invoking the phrase that “the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice,” Lall argued that the ruling demonstrates that justice, though delayed, ultimately prevailed.

“The arc of the moral universe does take forever to complete its tortured semicircle… But it does get there, to that serene arena where justice reigns, eventually,” he wrote.

Lall ended his commentary by questioning whether the government would now comply promptly with the court’s orders.

“The arc of the moral universe takes an eternity to chart its course. But it does bend in the direction of justice,” he wrote. “Will IDPADA-G collect?“