Dear Editor,
According to World Bank Director for the Caribbean Yvonne Tsikata, monies from the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF), or what we know as the LCDS, are considered development assistance and Norway wants to make sure that funds are used in the most transparent and effective way (Stabroek News, December 11, 2010).
She further was reported as stating in the same article that the World Bank could not release any funds to the implementing agencies such as the UNDP and the IDB until given the green light by the Steering Committee consisting of Guyana and Norway. She also clarified that once transferred to project implementers , GRIF funds must be spent applying adequate financial management, safeguards and controls.
Did the PPP/C read the agreement before they signed it in Fairview, Region 8? If they did, then why are they insisting that the monies from Norway were earned by Guyana and it is for the government to spend seemingly as it wishes?
In the village of Nappi, Region 9, the residents have said that one Minister of the PPP/C told them that because of the APNU and AFC budget cuts of the LCDS funds, they would not get presidential grants, solar systems, land titling, and monies via the Amerindian Development Fund. At the end of his speech he told them that he was going outside to cry on behalf the Amerindian peoples. The villagers said that they did not see him crying, instead he was engrossed in smoking a cigarette.
Now, the 198 students in the St Ignatius dormitory, Region 9, are complaining of getting very limited meals and are thus in a perpetual state of semi-hunger. On investigating, it was found that only one bag of rice (100 pounds) and two bottles of cooking oil are given to the cooks weekly. Each meal uses 35 pounds of rice. One cook said that they were told to stretch the limited beef and chicken; she said that she did not know that meat had elastic. The rumour circulating is that this shortage was due to the APNU and AFC’s budget cuts.
We know that the combined opposition passed the entire Ministries of Education and Amerindian Affairs’ budget for 2012. If more monies are needed to cater for our children then let the PPP/C ask for a supplementary provision. I was informed that the combined opposition is more than willing to grant these funds. Or is it a move by the PPP/C to make the lies they are peddling look factual? We shall remember this come the next general and regional elections.
Further, where are the Regional Chairman and the Regional Executive Officer of Region 9? During the Amerindian Village Council elections in April this year they were very busy influencing the peoples’ choice in favour of the PPP/C. They do not seem to know that their primary task is to make representations for improving the welfare of the people of Region 9.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to the Regional Education Officer Region 9, Ms Urline Crandon for any comment she might wish to make.
