The Alliance For Change today said that it noted with dismay and disappointment that the PPP is carrying through with its objective of dismantling all remaining guardrails of good governance and transparency.
This it said is so particularly with respect to the country’s natural resources and revenues derived therefrom. Most recently, it said that the nation watched aghast as the Natural Resource Fund legislation was rammed through parliament and then all proceeds siphoned off in Budget 2022.
“Now, the regime’s termination of Dr. Rudy Jadoopat as head of the local arm of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) sends an ominous warning…
“Under the APNU+AFC administration, and with the coming oil production, deliberate and purposeful steps were taken to establish the Norway based EITI in Guyana and to secure membership with the international body. This was done in record time, and in 2017, a Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) was launched and a National Coordinator, in the person of Dr. Rudy Jadoopat, an Economist, was retained to lead a professional GYEITI National Secretariat. Steady progress was made despite challenges and roadblocks erected to frustrate the implementation of the initiative. GYEITI grew exponentially from 2017 to 2021 under his astute stewardship”, the AFC said.
Since coming into office however, the AFC charged that the PPP has slowly whittled away at the independence and efficacy of the GYEITI by frustrating its work and demoralising the staff and the Multi-Stakeholder Group, which is the decision-making body according to the EITI International Standard.
“Now, with the sending off of Dr. Jadoopat, it appears that the plan to deny adequate professional scrutiny of the proceeds of the extractive sector, oil revenues in particular, is complete, as he is being replaced by a PPP ‘yesman’, Dr. Prem Misir”, the AFC said.
“Members of the CIVIL SOCIETY sector of the GYEITI MSG, the decision making body should be very angry about what is taking place, including, bringing a proven PPP ‘yesman’ to replace a proven excellent professional, internationally recognized. The US, UK, EU and Canada, even the International Oil Companies (IOCs), have regarded Rudy Jadoopat as an astute and towering professional in every respect. All Guyana, all Guyanese should embrace and welcome, not chase and chastise such highly qualified citizens of Guyana”, the AFC said.
