The installed People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime has lashed out at a large number of civil society organisations after the groups criticised the regime. On March 6, 2022, this publication had reported that a diverse range of civil society groups had issued a joint statement condemning the PPP. Credible Sources had reported that the statement focused on the matter of the PPP behaving as though it was accountable to no one. The statement listed several specific examples of the PPP — which has a razor-thin one-seat “majority” in parliament — making decisions unilaterally; without any regard for accountability to the people of Guyana.
The PPP has responded by lashing out at the civil society groups. Last week, installed President Irfaan Ali slammed the groups that issued the joint statement. Ali did not address any of the issues and concerns highlighted in the joint statement, instead, he attacked the groups themselves. The diverse groups include, Guyana Society for the Blind (GSB); Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR); East Coast Development Committees (ECD7); Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA); Guyana Organization of Indigenous Peoples (GOIP); Guyana Workers Union (GWU); Policy Forum Guyana Inc (PFG); Red Thread; and Transparency Institute Guyana Inc. (TIGI).
The installed President, in his attack against the groups, dismissed the stated concerns over accountability and transparency as lopsided and nonsensical. Ali said too, that “These organisations cannot be the conscience of truth or the conscience of society when they are convenient in the way they address issues. Many of the organisations had nothing to say after the No-Confidence Motion, they had nothing to say during the five months of impasse.” Ali, without giving any examples or specifics, accused the civil society groups of trying to hinder Guyana’s progress. He said, “We are not going to succumb to an agenda that is trying to slow the development process of our country and the development of our people.”
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