The parliamentary opposition led by Aubrey Norton met yesterday with US Congressman Hakeem Jeffries and the black congressional caucus at Capitol Hill, Washington DC, USA, where they said issues such as discrimination and racism against Afro-Guyanese were discussed.
In attendance at the meeting were PNCR General Secretary, Dawn Hastings-Williams; Shadow Local Government Minister and PNCR Executive Committee Member, Ganesh Mahipaul; Shadow Attorney General, Roysdale Forde; Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amanza Walton-Desir; Member of Parliament and PNCR Member, Nima Flue Bess; Chairman of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Catherine Hughes; and AFC members Deonarine Ramsaroop and Sherod Duncan.
Up to press time there was no word from Jeffries’ office on the meeting. Jeffries is the top Democrat in the US House of Representatives
Hughes last evening told Stabroek News that there is “an erosion of democratic principles under the PPP/C government,” and as an example referenced AFC Executive Member David Patterson’s incident at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport where he was barred from travelling to attend the meeting with the US Black Congressional Caucus in Washington despite clearance from a court to travel.
“We informed the black caucus of this recent incident and they were horrified by this, and that is a typical example of the PPP’s non-support for freedom of the press, freedom of movement and democracy,” she added.
The Guyana Police Force which has purview over the immigration department subsequently apologized to Patterson for the action after he got his attorneys involved. He was due to travel last night. (See other story on page 17)
Other issues such as Guyanese not benefitting from the country’s financial resources from its nascent oil and gas sector were put forward to the black caucus, Hughes related.
Jeffries was also briefed on the alleged discriminatory practices meted out against Afro-Guyanese under the Ali-led government which the black caucus deemed troubling and worrisome, according to Hughes.
The meeting also touched on the National Assembly where members of cabinet have been accused of making unilateral decisions without consulting opposition parliamentarians, the AFC Chairman said.
As such, Congressman Jeffries called for inclusivity to prevail at the national assembly which is one of the major pillars of democracy she noted.
Meanwhile Norton, on Wednesday at the “Washington Conference on Guyana” organised by the CGID also spoke extensively of what he alleged was the practice of racism under the PPP/C Regime.
According to Norton many “Afro-Guyanese and pro-coalition communities” are deliberately neglected under the incumbent administration. He also urged US policymakers to lend its support for a clean voters list and the use of biometrics at polling stations.
But Norton opined that the government is afraid to implement the system as it would reveal the truth of how well the PPP/C would do at the upcoming elections based on the votes cast.
The Opposition Leader also addressed the issue of the government’s investments in capital projects without striking a balance and treating human resources as an area of priority.
Infrastructural development
He made it clear that while nothing is wrong with infrastructural development, the government seems too fixed on this without seeing the need to maximise the country’s human resources.
Against this background Norton posited that the government does not have a strategic plan for Guyana and the Black Caucus must be informed of what is happening in relation to the PPP/C’s management of the country’s resources.
Forde in his briefing, told the Washington conference of the government’s refusal to consult on the establishment of the constitutional Human Rights Commission which is empowered to conduct studies, formulate reports, investigate and assess instances of marginalisation and inequalities.
Walton-Desir said that the black caucus was informed of the Guyana-Venezuela Border Controversy which is currently before the International Court of Justice (Hague, Netherlands). She noted that the US congress indicated its full-fledged support for Guyana amid the controversy and is adamant that the two countries must arrive at an amicable solution.
The Member of Parliament referenced the disparities between the rich and the poor where the benefit of Guyana’s oil revenues are concerned.
According to Walton-Desir, Guyana is “racially, socially and economically divided under the ruling PPP/C Government.”
Hastings-Williams also raised the issue of the government’s failure to adhere to the principles of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
She referred to instances whereas several toshaos are not consulted on matters affecting Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples which is a violation of the principles of FPIC.
Meanwhile Ian Campbell, an associate member of the Congressional Black Caucus said the opposition must continuously hold the government accountable for its wrongdoings and not wait for issues to escalate.
While the opposition is trying its best to update the black caucus on Guyana’s geopolitical affairs and leadership of the government, the reality is that the regime remains in power and what can they (the opposition) effectively do to remove the administration from power amid concerns of alleged corruption, Campbell asked.
