Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon has accused the UK’s representatives here of pursuing “ulterior motives” in the management of a £3 million joint project for reforming Guyana’s security sector.
Dr Roger Luncheon
In separate correspondence to President Bharrat Jagdeo and British High Commissioner to Guyana Fraser Wheeler, dated May 6, 2009, Luncheon registered his concern over the motives of the UK’s representatives, saying he was disturbed by “offensive” proposals which, according to him, suggest that Guyana is “totally incapable” of managing the reform process. As a result, Luncheon has recommended that the proposals be rejected in their entirety and requested that President Jagdeo relieve him of responsibility for concluding the agreement for the project. “I have lost faith in the process and am increasingly convinced of ulterior motives being addressed by representatives of the Government of the UK,” he said at the end of a letter to Wheeler.
Luncheon’s letters were released yesterday by the Government Information Agency (GINA), in an apparent attempt to respond to concerns expressed by Wheeler about the delay in implementation of the Security Sector Reform Action Plan. It is unclear whether President Jagdeo has responded to Luncheon’s request, although Stabroek News was told last evening that there has been no decision on the issue as yet.
Fraser Wheeler
On Monday, Wheeler said he was “frustrated” with the delays in implementation and he blamed persons in government “quibbling” over administrative details for holding it up. Although he did not go into the details of the delay in the process, he emphasised that the UK sees the need for “very tight management of resources” in the current economic climate. “The administration of money should not be a deal breaker, I would hope, [the reform is] too important for that,” Wheeler said.
An interim Memorandum of Understanding for the four-year £3 million (nearly $1 billion) Security Sector Reform Action Plan was signed in August 2007. Since that time, Luncheon has been responsible for engagement with the UK government’s representatives.
Late last year, a framework for the “Formulation and Implementation of a National Security Policy and Strategy” was concluded. Subsequently, in April the representatives of the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advised that their government had given approval for the agreed design for reform and they offered two documents that provided details of implementation.“The content of their April submission is offensive, suggesting that Guyana is totally incapable of managing its own Security Sector Reform and needed to be spoon fed in the implementing of all aspects of the Security Sector Reform contemplated in the GOG/UK engagement,” Luncheon informed Jagdeo. He added that based on their submissions, he could not accept that the resident representatives of the British government seriously intended his continued involvement. “Mr. President, I am left to conclude that the representatives had to have an ulterior motive in presenting these two documents whose content they were quite aware I would find offensive and unacceptable,” he said.
Luncheon’s letter also indicated that the engagements had been “challenging” and he said his experiences revealed the UK’s representatives to be “insincere and inconsistent” with regard to Guyana’s concerns about national ownership of the process. “The records would show that with each important step along the way I have had to repeatedly address issues of National Ownership and even resort to your inputs at times,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Luncheon also communicated similar concerns about the motives of the British government’s resident representatives to Wheeler, explaining that it was owing to his disappointment with the UK’s proposals on management of the project, the process and the timeline, that he intended to withdraw from further participation. He also mentioned his recommendation to his principals that the proposals be rejected in their entirety, while suggesting that they did not reflect the commitments agreed during the bilateral engagements.
Although he noted the Guyana’s government’s “profoundly negative reactions” to the proposals, Luncheon also indicated to Wheeler its appreciation of the efforts made during the bilateral engagements “in progressively agreeing in principle” with a programme for security sector reform in Guyana.
Wheeler had said that the delay in implementation of the plan has been constraining a partnership in addressing a number of issues in the security sector. “We need to get on with it, but there are some people in the government who are quibbling about administrative details still, which means we can’t do it and we want to do it,” he said, adding that both he and President Jagdeo were frustrated with the delay and were eager to see movement in the reform. “We have to use this money; it has been hanging around for a long time, and as I say, in the current economic climate, we need to use it or we will lose it,” he said.
In keeping with components of the plan, in January this year, Major General (Ret) Michael Atherly was appointed Project Coordinator for Security Sector Reform, with a Security Sector Reform Secretariat established within the Office of the President, while the National Assembly approved the creation of an Oversight Committee for the Security Sector.
The five main elements of the plan cover building the operational capacity of the police force; strengthening policy-making across the security sector to make it more transparent, effective, and better coordinated; mainstreaming financial management in the security sector into public sector financial management reform; creating substantial parliamentary and other oversight of the security sector; and building greater public participation and inclusiveness in security sector issues. The plan was specifically designed to complement the ongoing Citizen Security and Justice Reform programmes, in a bid to tackle crime and security in a holistic manner.
A parliamentary committee has been set up to review the plan’s implementation, but it has met only once to elect a chairman. The review committee is expected to receive and examine official annual reports from the administration on the status of the implementation of the activities in 11 priority areas on an annual basis and also to provide a final report to the National Assembly of its examination of the reports on the implementation of the entire action plan.
The priority areas were identified after extensive discussions and consultations with stakeholders, including the leadership of the law enforcement agencies, the public and the donor community.
Among the short-term priority areas were: the establishment of a special firearms support team to execute high-risk operations with regard to terrorism, hijacking, hostage release and negotiations and specialized tactical deployment; developing an anti-crime unit through support for an operational protocol, provide training on technical aspects of anti-crime operations and the acquisition of operational equipment and resources among other things; boosting crime intelligence by supporting the capability of the police force with regard to the gathering, analysis, interpretation, dissemination and management of strategic and operational crime-related information; and developing forensic capacity.
Luncheon what would you say if the British pack up their embassy, take back all their aid and support (that yall be taking and putting in yall pockets) and everything they have in Guyana and leave????
Whats the pussy footing about????
Luncheon is in deep deep denial about the state of affairs in Guyana.
SANDY I THINK THAT IS WHAT HE IS WAITING FOR. WHY SHOULD FEEL INSULTED FOR BEING WHAT YOU ARE =INCOMPETENT.DRAGING HIS FEET,AND CONSTANTLY ON SLOW-MOTION IS ALL SINGS OF INCAPABILITY…THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT CAUSE GUYANA TO BE THE WAY IT IS…ROGER SHOULD TAKE THE RABBITS AND STAY PERMENENTLY ON LUNCH….THE PRESIDENT SHOULD HAVE A MORE CAPABLE STAFF… THESE PEOPLE FAIL TO REALIZE THAT THE WORLD IS WATCHING AND ONCE THERE IS THE HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATION GUYANA WOULD GET HELP …IF THE PRESIDENT HAS A HEART FOR GUYANA HE WILL GET RID OF ALL THE “INCAPABILITIES”AROUND AND ASK FOR INTERNATIONAL HELP TO PUT GUYANA BACK ON THE MAP….pREZO YOU ARE THE ONE WHO IS GETTING THE BLAME DO SOMETHING YOU HAVE STILL GOT THE CHANCE TO MAKE IT RIGHT
Sandman you have to understand this is all shenanigans by the PPP, they begging for help and to get the help they are so lazy they do not want to do any work.
so what do they do? they throw a hissy fit like a spoiled child but it aint gonna work. The British, the Americans and the Canadians are thoroughly fed up dealing with the PPP and their madness.
Why do you think Jagdeo is all over the world flying looking for money in libya and of all places jordan and syria? is because these governments have wizened up that the PPP is now a dictatorship and has squandered all the opportunities given to them.
The British won’t pack up and leave like that. However, note these words, “Although he did not go into the details of the delay in the process, he emphasised that the UK sees the need for “very tight management of resources” in the current economic climate.”
UK MPs are already concerned about any donor money towards avoiding deforestation falling into the hands of corrupt governments, of which Guyana has been repeatedly accused, and so this refernce to ‘Very tight management of resources’ is another term for fighting corruption.
I have said over and over again the PPP has a vested interest in keeping crime rates high and this is why you see they are “pussy footing” around this issue.
If law enforcement tightens up in GT by international folks they are gonna begin to hold the government and their cohorts to the letter of the law and we cannot have that now can we?
THEIR IS A LOT GOING ON HERE,
1. RODGER IS NOT OUT OF PLACE TO WRITE THIS LETTER, HE WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE PRESIDENT, HE WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN IT ON HIS OWN TO MAKE SUCH A STATEMENT ON HIS OWN, THIS WOULD CAUSE AN INTERNATIONAL INCIDENT.
2. THIS SHOWS THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA IS PETTY AND DISHONEST, THEY WANT TO PUT THEIR HANDS ON THE CASE WITCH THE BRITS ARE NOT ALLOWING.
3. THE GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA HAS NO REAL INTEREST IN SECURITY, JUST LIKE THEY HAVE NO REAL INTEREST IN RACE RELATIONS, BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT HELP THEM AT THE BALLOT BOX IF GUYANA WAS TO VOTE RACE.
4. AT A TIME WHEN THE COUNTRY NEED HELP IN THIS AREA OF SECURITY THE GUYANA PRESIDENT SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HIM SELF, IF THE BRITS PULL OUT AT THIS POINT AND ALLOW THE FINE MAN’S AND THE SKINNY’S AND THE WHO EVER TO RETAKE THE STREETS OF GUYANA THEN WE ASKED FOR IT.
5. IF THIS NOT A CLEAR REASON TO VOTE OUT THIS GOVERNMENT THEN I DON’T KNOW WHAT IS
6 THE INDIANS WHO VOTED THE PPP IN SHOULD SEE NOW THAT THE PPP DON’T HAVE THEIR SECURITY INTEREST AT HEART.
MICHAEL RYAN
Now that wouldn’t be nice would it ? This could result in others being deprived of the opportunity of attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst…….
Fazman…i am sure there are other academies around the world that teaches you the same thing they do at SandHurst…ask the Jihads.
Luncheon is de spin doctor so he jus doing his job that he is beoing paid to do.
what “ulterior motives”? Luncheon should resign indeed, he’s pussyfooting the process… he does everything in slow-mo and if I was the British I would have gone passed frustration a long time ago.
This is basic logics:
From a PPP perspective, crime is a major factor that keeps the Indian vote in check, ask RAVI DEV from ROAR – it’s what he been saying all along!
A level of crime must be sustained in the country to a point where Indians feel fearful (everyone is fearful really)….the PPP would then exploit this fear (bottom house meetings?) and make it appear as if the PNC and its people are the ones responsible for crime in Guyana. The Indians then vote back the PPP in power and migrate anyway. The PPP continues its cycle of corruption and incompetence and everyone lives happily never after!
The Indians getting played and manipulated over and over again by the PPP like a stuck record and they don’t even know it. The question they should ask is why vote back the PPP and migrate anyway? Those two actions conflict with each other.
How smart are we as Guyanese really?
When are we as a people gonna wake up to facts that have been replayed over and over again?
Once crime is kept under control it creates a better environment for everyone but some of us only have “ulterior motives”
There is no surprise here. Guyana is incapable of managing the security sector, and are too stupid to ask for assistance.Coming from the person who said there is no evidence to bring charges against Roger Khan, one can expect these statements that makes no sence.
Which one of the two individuals appear to have ‘ulterior motives’ ? Ha !
As usual the wagons are circling and the pointing of fingers in all directions but toward themselves has started. Constructive criticism is never accepted by the bunch of empty vessels steering this ship towards the rocks. Based on their gross incompetence in previous endeavours, I agree with the UK representatives not to have confidence in Guyana’s representatives. Don’t hand over a farthing until all measures securing transparency are in place. The corruption and fraud in Guyana rival Nigeria’s. Don’t allow the inmates to run the asylum.
De British people should tek back de country from
them and run it like long ago, you bet that we all
will be happy again.
‘Constructive criticism is never accepted by the bunch of empty vessels steering this ship towards the rocks’.Banna…..the ship already on the rocks……that noise ya hear…..is the water fulling up.
Everyone, isn’t is quite clear from Wheeler’s statement that the “The administration of money should not be a deal breaker, I would hope, [the reform is] too important for that,” and “the UK sees the need for “very tight management of resources” in the current economic climate” that the reason for the pussyfooting is that the PPP/C won’t be able to take liberties with the funding?
This government wants automony with the people’s aid, so that funding can be diverted to other areas. Think this theory is outlandish? Just ask many working under the PEPFAR scheme how money was diverted by certain ministries to fund their internal programmes instead of addressing HIV/AIDS.
I applaud the UK government’s vigilance in spending. They obviously know of the nonsense perpetrated by the PPP/C government and are rightly controlling and monitoring the spending. The EU and the US better start monitoring better before these pilferers stack the pockets of their favorite funders more. You know, like the oil dealer that is now the authority on sea defence works? That group of people, by this government’s authorization, accrue all the wealth from foreign funding, which they then offer as kickbacks for party favors.
What is most shameful is that these inept leaders have the temerity to shelve a much needed reform, just because they cannot get the freedom to spend the money, or mismanage it.
I say now, the PPP/C is crashing. No one expected that about the previous government, and it happened. The same will be true for this swarm.
and just de ada day yall celebrate big independence …..is it really independent and yall got to depended on de same one dat bowled you over and screw you inside out in de fuss place….
lunch man is right to resign because he is not one to say how hi when massa say jump….
no evileyes guyana can never become independent under
the ppp regime, they always got their CUP in front of them, a bunch of loosers..
He resign because he’s inept, and the rug was pulled from under him.
turbo if dem always gat dem cup in front den is it not de pee n see meck dem so….de debts man de debts…2 much fuh guyanese to take…dem tink dem cud run de country pon 4cents fuh every dalla collected..i hope u ent fuget dat.suh next time u talk bout de cup in front talk about de broom at de back.
It is common knowledge that Guyana cannot manage its security sector and it can be proven: no guess work here. Every time someone outside of Guyana does a study, there ia ALWAYS some ulterior motives, biased views …..and the list goes on. Luncheon “thou doth protest too much”. No one will arbitrarily hand over money and not have some say so in how it will be spent. I guess the govt wants money and no accountability.
nene that is the way this ppp govt. operates no ACCOUNTABILITY.
They have a lot to hide that is why they rejected it.
Luncheon, Jagdeo nor any of the ppp members in the Duma is a sagacious scholar.A typical reaction of the MARXIST propaganda mentality and the reason is obvious–sustain crime and prevent defection of your voting base in 2011.Not brain surgery.
First the EU now the UK expresses frustration…a clear pattern here. This government wants to beg for money but then is not willing to abide by the regulations and time frames to make sure it is spent properly and on time.
This is the Government at its best, always foot dragging just to get their way. IT is only a matter of time. Allyuh gonna get kicked to the kerb. No more PPP in power. 2011 right round da corna. So allyuh can continue to play da fool with the country. We da people tekking it back irrespective of which party in power.
That’s a lame excuse mr. luncheon always on the defense for your ineptness, blame the u.k, here we have the u.k assisting guyana in fight against crime and we have ministerial heads pussyfooting in it’s implemention, i guess they are not concerned about the high crimes in guyana, as long as they are safe, to heck with the population.
amen-ra
yuh really really tink uk is trying its very best to assist? man yuh still dreaming..wake up bro and smell de green tea for wat it is…uk and us and even canada dont do nothing guh nothing and i tink yuh know dat too.