APNU+AFC to raise several critical issues with US Congressional leaders in meeting next week

Guyana’s Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, has confirmed reports in the media that the United States Congressional leaders will meet next week with members of Guyana’s Parliamentary Opposition. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Congress at the United States Capitol in Washington.

‘A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change’ (APNU+AFC) Members of Parliament expected to attend the meeting are Aubrey Norton, Dawn Hastings-Williams, Ganesh Mahipaul, Roysdale Forde S.C, and Amanza Walton-Desir for APNU, and AFC’s Catherine Hughes, Deonarine Ramsaroop, and David Patterson.

Two of the above-listed Parliamentarians who will be attending the meeting scheduled meetings told Credible Sources some of the expectations of the engagements. AFC’s Cathrine ‘Cathy’ Hughes said some of the key areas to be addressed will be “data”. This is important and will be presented,” she said. “We want to present data on some of the sectors in Guyana and the fact that we do not believe that there is an equal allocation of funds to communities.”

Mrs. Hughes added that with Guyana’s oil wealth, Guyanese of all ethnicities must be able to benefit equitably. MP Hughes said that she is excited and hopeful for the meeting because “The Congressional Black Caucus feels very strongly about the maintenance of democratic principles not only in their own country but in the rest of the world. So some of the things we want to discuss with them are the challenges we see as impacting our democratic principles here in Guyana, with a view to soliciting their support to articulate these challenges. This includes, for example, going into the next elections without a clean voters’ list that citizens of Guyana can be comfortable with. We feel strongly that biometrics at the place of poll is something that we really want to implement.”

Meanwhile, Parliamentarian Deonarine Ramsaroop said he intends to discuss with the Congressional Black Caucus issues of victimization and marginalization by the People Progressive Party (PPP) government against every ethnic group in Guyana, especially those who do not support the PPP. Ramsaroop stated that some data of “Poor East Indians who do not want to support the PPP/C are being victimized through the non-receipt of old age pension.” Ramsaroop noted too that he hopes to address the situation of “Guyana’s Indigenous People”. The Member of Parliament noted that our Indigenous people are being left out of participating in the Oil and Gas Sector as well as Gold and Diamond Mining.