While government had last week announced that talks with the United States about the controversial $300 million democracy project would have commenced this week, no such talks were held.
When contacted, Presidential Advisor Gail Teixeira told Stabroek News that the talks were not held “for a number of reasons” but she did not wish to make those reasons public.
It was Teixeira who had last week stated that the talks were scheduled although government had no indication that the project was suspended.
It is the administration’s position that participating in talks while the project is ongoing would be tantamount to negotiating “under duress”.
Stabroek News has learnt that the Leadership and Democracy Programme’s (LEAD) elements are currently being implemented as planned.
United Stated Ambassador Brendt Hardt had said on Sunday that his embassy had no request for a meeting this week with government. Nonetheless he informed that whichever day this week government requests his presence he will be available. He said too that he remains optimistic that the talks will be fruitful.
Speaking at a Rotary Club of Georgetown Central event at the Georgetown Club the Ambassador had mounted a stout defence of the project here saying it will not be put on hold despite the Guyana
