The International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana (IDPADA-G) is bemoaning the fact that despite their efforts and best intentions, President Irfaan Ali is yet to demonstrate any willingness or inclination to meet with the Assembly to discuss a common way forward.
In a release on Tuesday, the IDPADA-G said that as the final year of the UN Decade for People of African Descent approaches, the organisation saw it prudent to hold meetings with President Ali and the Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton to, as they put it, “review Guyana’s progress towards achievement of the UN’s Programme of Activities for the Decade and to chart a course forward to address deficits.”
It was also pointed out that the intention of these proposed meetings was to allow IDPADA-G an opportunity “to voice our concern about the government’s response to the UN’s inquiry into IDPADA-G’s reports and complaints on governance and human rights issues. Further, the Assembly wanted to pinpoint and provide an opportunity for the correction of government’s “gross misrepresentation” of Guyanese history submitted to the UN as part of its response.
And while the IDPADA-G has reported on its meeting with the Opposition Leader, it has disclosed that to date, the President has neither acknowledged nor granted any of its requests for a meeting.
In a previous release, the Assembly had reported on its meeting where the Parliamentary Opposition had resolved to collaborate on policy initiatives to achieve greater equity, cohesion and human security for all Guyanese. This it noted, was in keeping with the state’s obligations under the UN Decade for People of African Descent.
Subsequent to Ali’s non-response, the IDPADA-G has declared its intention to raise these agenda items for discussion, not only with the Opposition, but with the wider public and international community, including the Guyanese diaspora, the release added.
