GUYANA | Guyana's Opposition delegation to meet with US Congressional Black Causus

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica September 20, 2023 - On Wednesday the 27th of September, Guyana’s Opposition APNU/AFC will have an opportunity to sit with members of the United States Congressional Black Caucus, and hosted by Democratic Leader of  the United States (U.S) House of Representatives, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries.

Last week, Jeffries along with a team of Black congressional House Members,  met with a Guyana government delegation led by president Irfaan Ali and included his foreign minister Hugh Todd, tourism and commerce minister, Oneidge Walrond, foreign secretary, Robert Persaud and Guyana Defense Force Chief of Staff Brigadier Omar Khan.

Heading to Washington for this meeting are Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton, Members of Parliament Dawn Hastings-Williams, Ganesh Mahipaul, Roysdale Forde S.C, Catherine ‘Cathy’ Hughes, Deonarine Ramsaroop, David Patterson, Amanza Walton-Desir, Nina Flue-Bess and Vincent Henry. 

The delegation will meet Democratic House Leader Jeffries and other Members of the House next Wednesday, September 27 on Capitol Hill.

Matters to be discussed include the opposition’s call for a clean Voters List. The Opposition and supporters have been staging weekly protests in front of the Guyana Elections Commission, to have their demands met.

Local and international observers to the 2020 General and Regional Elections have expressed concern about the size of the Voters List relative to the population. The population has approximately 760,000persons whilst the Preliminary List of Electors (PLE) has approximately 680,000 names.

Over the years the U.S has played a pivotal role in Guyana’s political, social and economic development. 

Former US Ambassador Sarah Ann Lynch has repeatedly called on the Government to engage with the Opposition and civic society, noting the importance of inclusion and sustainability of all Guyanese. 

Before demitting office earlier this month,  Lynch communicated her willingness to facilitate such engagement. However, President Ali refused the offer to facilitate a meeting with  Leader of the Opposition Aubrey Norton.

The President even hinted he does not need the Opposition for his ‘one Guyana’ programme. This go-it-alone management approach contravenes inclusionary democracy in the management and decision-making processes of the state as outlined in Article 13 of the Constitution of Guyana.

In July 2022 President Ali was summoned to Washington D.C by the U.S Government. In a read-out of Vice President Kamala Harris’ call with Ali on July 26, 2022, posted on the White House’s website she made known that

 “she looked forward to continuing her collaboration with President Ali in promoting inclusive democracy, economic development, and security for all Guyanese, and underscored the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to strengthening U.S. partnerships with the Caribbean.”

The Biden Administration’s policy was initially shared by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. On July 26, following his meeting with the Ali’s delegation Blinken tweeted:

 “Guyana remains a key partner as we work to bolster food and energy security, promote shared prosperity and inclusive growth, strengthen transparency, and safeguard the environment”

Jeffries and several other members of Congress are also scheduled to meet with delegates of the Washington Conference on Guyana, which will take place from September 27-28 at the National Press Club in Washington DC.

The conference will address what has been described by the Opposition as the apartheid policies of the PPP regime and how US policy can help achieve inclusive governance, inclusive growth, equality, equal rights and justice and sustainable development of all Guyanese, according to organizers.

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