The Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes and a delegation on Monday held a meeting with Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, US Department of State, Barbara Feinstein; and Director, Office of Caribbean Affairs, Katherine Beamer, where they discussed matters pertaining to Guyana’s development and national elections, an AFC release stated.
The meeting was held at the Department of State office in Washington DC and Hughes was accompanied by Chairman of the Party, David Patterson MP; executive members Professor Shamir Ally, Catherine Hughes MP, Collin Haynes, and advisor, Laura George.
At the meeting the AFC Leader highlighted several issues relating to Guyana’s development and the rule of law. High on the agenda was the need for a new registration process ahead of Guyana’s next Regional and General Elections and the production of a new list of electors. This is in keeping with recommendations from several of the Observer Missions of the 2020 Polls.
According to the release, the AFC team expressed concerns regarding the lack of feasibility studies regarding large infrastructure projects currently underway in Guyana and contract bidding processes. The two sides discussed increased cooperation between Guyana and the USA especially on the areas of institutional strengthening in the energy sector, capacity building in the public sector and state institutions, increased trade, fiscal management and accountability, and natural resource management.
Also raised by the AFC Leader were the recent actions of the US government to sanction some Guyanese, and the likelihood of further similar actions. The AFC team also thanked the US government for its support of Guyana’s position on the border controversy with Venezuela.
The AFC team is in the USA for a number of meetings and public engagements. The party recently concluded “Listening & Grounding” sessions with the Guyanese diaspora in New York, Washington DC, and will be meeting with the Guyanese diaspora in Florida later this week, the release added.
