Dear Editor,
Vice-President Jadgeo has once again taken to the media to vilify me. On a previous occasion when he reached out to me, I was pellucid that I had no intention of being hospitable to someone who had crassly vilified me, in the media. His response was ‘Vincent, is just politics.’ I indicated to him that I don’t engage in such politics. Indeed I don’t.
In his Press Conference of August 19, 2022, he sought to vilify me for being advertised as a participant in Cuffy 250`s conference because of its theme: The Emerging Apartheid State in Guyana. An example of his manner of vilification was to infer that of IDPADA-G` annual wage bill of ‘$42M… they are using Afro Guyanese for their own personal benefits’. He challenged me, among others, to hold a press conference to account for the use of IDPADA-G`s funds. That will be done. But here is an immediate response to his malicious and libelous accusations.
1. Cuffy 250 invited me to be a presenter at its conference. I accepted and will open myself to public scrutiny based on what I will present. Jagdeo`s attack will not deter me from exercising my constitutional right to freely associate and express my views.
2. Cuffy 250 is quite capable of representing itself. I am not, and need not be, a spokesman for Cuffy 250.
3. With regard to IDPADA-G, Jagdeo is patently malicious and libelous in his attempt to project that I am the beneficiary of a limited liability company to which the Government provides a subvention. IDPADA-G is a private not-for-profit company of which, as the elected Chairperson of IDPADA-G, I am a director. There is absolutely no financial returns that I derive. I am an absolute volunteer, who has never received one cent, in any way or fashion, from IDPADA-G. Having sent special auditors in on us, on two occasions, the Government is quite aware of that fact. That apart, we subject the company to audits as are required by the Company`s Act. It is an affront to the 60-odd African Guyanese organizations that comprise IDPADA-G to suggest that there is a small group of beneficiaries who have hoodwinked them.
4. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, not for the first time, requested our registration documents and audited statements, on the morning of Jagdeo`s press conference. Due to IDPADA-G`s open, accountable and transparent operations, we provided the documents post haste, well aware that mischief was a-foot.
5. Selective figures were presented from the audited accounts to paint the picture which Jagdeo wished to paint. I am assured that IDPADA-G`s press conference will expose Jadgeo`s wicked and malicious assertions.
6. For some time now Jadgeo has been trying to drive wedges among the Guyanese of African descent, and between IDPADA-G and the African Guyanese community. He has tried infiltration, as well as when he addresses African Guyanese audiences, he poses the question: ‘Have you benefitted from the 100,000,000.00GDs that were given to Alexander?’
On this occasion, I am actively considering meeting Jagdeo in the Court for his ongoing attempts at character assassination.
Sincerely,
Vincent Alexander