In light of the recent allegations of misuse of funds by the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G), the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport has written to the organisation requesting all of its financial records for scrutiny.
In a letter seen by the News Room dated August 31, 2022, Subject Minister Charles Ramson wrote to Chief Executive Officer, Olive Sampson requesting the financial records.
“The recent disclosures, publications, and public statements have provided the basis for the Ministry to have grave concerns which require closer examination by the Ministry,” the letter stated.
The Ministry is requesting a copy of all financial records including, but not limited to, payment, vouchers, payroll, contracts, and receipts for all monies spent for the fiscal years from 2018 to the present date.
The organisation is expected to submit the records by September 5, 2022.
The letter noted that the government has an overarching public responsibility to ensure that public funds received by any entity are spent according to the intended objective.
Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on August 19, 2022 had 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.
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.
Vincent Alexander, an Executive of IDPADA-G and opposition nominated elections Commissioner, subsequently called on Jagdeo to apologise for his statements but provided few details on the use of the funds over the years.
