Jagdeo calls on Afro-Guyanese group to come clean; dismisses discrimination claims

Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has dismissed claims made by the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly- Guyana (IDPADA-G) that the People’s Progressive Party government has been practicing discrimination, especially as it relates to funding to further the cause of Afro-Guyanese.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Jagdeo, reasoned: “The cause is to shout as much as possible about discrimination so that they can draw the benefits in.”

He called on the group to come clean and let the nation know how sums received from the government over the years have been expended in the best interest of Afro-Guyanese.

Dr. Jagdeo highlighted that between the period 2020-2022, the IDPADA-G received a total of $300 million from the government of Guyana, an equal disbursement of $100 million per year. The PPP/C came into power in 2020.

This is in addition to $68 million in 2018 and $100 million in 2019, the Vice-President revealed.

Jagdeo further added that of the $100 million received in 2020, only $343,000 was handed out as grants to various groups.

“This group of individuals has not only failed Afro-Guyanese, but they are living the good life on the backs [of Afro-Guyanese] claiming that they believe in a cause based on their own personal pecuniary interest,” the VP stated.

The Vice-President’s comments stemmed from an advertisement published by the Cuffy 250 Committee inviting persons to participate in a discussion themed, “Resisting the emerging Apartheid state in Guyana.”

“This is doing a disservice to Apartheid, and the struggles of the South African people. Do they know what Apartheid is? And this is what they have a conference on.”

Dr. Jagdeo pointed out that it is the same individuals who have received close to half a billion dollars from this PPP/C Government.

“We are funding basically them criticising the Government, this is effectively what is happening,” the VP noted.

Banker and financial expert, Floyd Haynes, who was listed as a speaker at the discussion, has already distanced himself from any involvement and has rejected the statement as a disservice to all Guyanese.

Two other speakers are Cuffy 250 Committee Chairman, Dr. Norman Ng-A-Qui and Vincent Alexander, who are also beneficial owners of IDPADA-G.

“I’d like them to have a press conference so that they could tell the people of this country what they have done with the nearly half a billion dollars of taxpayers’ money they have received and how much they have utilised to give in the interest of ordinary Afro-Guyanese in this country.”

The Vice-President also presented IDPADA-G’s financial statement for 2020, which shows that salaries and allowances amounted to $42 million, conference expenses $4.5 million, travelling and transportation $2.8 million, advertisements $2 million, office material and expenses $9 million, and building rentals and utilities $5 million.

 “Doesn’t this country see that these are parasites using Afro-Guyanese just for their own personal benefits?” Dr. Jagdeo questioned.

Responding directly to criticisms by Working People’s Alliance (WPA) member, David Hinds that the PPP/C Government can empower Afro-Guyanese through scholarships, the Vice-President stated that through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) scholarships programme, more Afro-Guyanese received scholarships in one year, as compared to five years under the APNU+AFC, of which, ironically, the WPA was a member party.

“More Afro-Guyanese got land in the first two years of the PPP/C Government than in the five years under APNU, significantly more, if you’re talking about facts on empowerment,” he added.

Making reference to the ‘Because We Care’ and school uniform and supplies $30,000 grant which benefitted every child in public and private schools, the VP said Afro-Guyanese children received some $3.7 billion.

“That is $3.7 billion more going to their pockets that they didn’t have under APNU. In fact, APNU took away the $10,000 grant,” he noted.

The Vice-President contends that Afro-Guyanese continue to benefit from measures implemented by the PPP/C Administration significantly more than they did during the APNU+AFC Coalition leadership.