The Opposition, the A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) and the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana (IDPADA-G) have agreed to collaborate on policy initiatives to achieve greater equity, cohesion and human security for all Guyanese, in keeping with the state’s obligations under the United Nations (UN) Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024). In a joint statement the Opposition has agreed to consider advocating for IDPADA-G’s proposals outlined hereunder:
“Rebuild the frayed fabric of our society by the implementation of a new National Service programme that ensures that Guyanese who volunteer are deployed across the nation to build communities, expand agricultural production, and prepare youths to defend the nation.
“Launch a national history project to write the history of Guyana enshrining the contributions of all ethnic groups, training master trainers to teach this history to teachers and to develop a nation-wide public education programme that ensures that all Guyanese know how this nation came to be and who we are as a people.
“Resuscitate Villages Councils as a means of the citizens protecting and beneficially occupying their lands, including Ancestral lands (lands purchased and/or granted to the manumitted people of African descent) thus sparking growth and development of village economies.
“Advocate for the collection of data disaggregated by ethnicity as the basis for policy formulation and implementation so as to rectify the fast-growing disparities in all sectors of Guyanese society.
“Support the call by the UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent for a second Decade devoted to addressing the goals of Recognition, Justice and Development.”
The Joint Statement follows:-
OFFICE OF THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION AND COORDINATING COUNCIL, IDPADA-G
At a meeting held at the request of IDPADA-G, the Parliamentary Opposition resolved to collaborate on policy initiatives to achieve greater equity, cohesion and human security for all Guyanese, in keeping with the state’s obligations under the UN Decade for people of African descent.
IDPADA-G discussed its work and critical policy initiatives for which the organization seeks to advocate in the final year of the United Nations Decade for People of African Descent, 2024.
The IDPADA-G Chair, Vincent Alexander briefed members of the Opposition on the work the organization had accomplished from its launch in 2018, set out the circumstances surrounding the abrupt and unexplained cessation of the organization’s government subvention in September 2022, noting that work has continued thanks to donations and more recently, a grant from an international donor.
The Opposition and IDPADA-G agreed that while the Decade addresses issues related to African descendants, its plan of action, if implemented by the State, will bring relief and progress to all impoverished and vulnerable communities in Guyana, regardless of ethnicity.
To this end, the Opposition undertook to consider advocating for IDPADA-G’s proposals to:
- Rebuild the frayed fabric of our society by the implementation of a new National Service programme that ensures that Guyanese who volunteer are deployed across the nation to build communities, expand agricultural production, and prepare youths to defend the nation.
- Launch a national history project to write the history of Guyana enshrining the contributions of all ethnic groups, training master trainers to teach this history to teachers and to develop a nation-wide public education programme that ensures that all Guyanese know how this nation came to be and who we are as a people.
- Resuscitate Villages Councils as a means of the citizens protecting and beneficially occupying their lands, including Ancestral lands (lands purchased and/or granted to the manumitted people of African descent) thus sparking growth and development of village economies.
- Advocate for the collection of data disaggregated by ethnicity as the basis for policy formulation and implementation so as to rectify the fast-growing disparities in all sectors of Guyanese society.
- Support the call by the UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent for a second Decade devoted to addressing the goals of Recognition, Justice and Development.
Finally, the Opposition pledged its support to work for the restoration of the IDPADA-G subvention and in support of a structured and measurable response to the UN Programme of Activities for the Decade.
