Government is open to civil society scrutiny but will not sit idly by and allow lies to be spread by organisations that claim to be apolitical but are partisan, Vice President Bharat Jagdeo has said.
A day after the government’s persecution of civil society groups was raised by PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton during a meeting with visiting United States Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti Barbara Feinstein, Jagdeo on Friday said that he rejected the positions simply because they are false.
“We made it clear that this is a free country and people are free to express their views and they have done so under the PPP without fear of intimidation. People who would not say a word under APNU have found their voice now and that is good. But we are not eunuchs,” Jagdeo told a news conference on Friday.
“If they come and lie about the governed or take partisan points as they have done, we will not take it because we are not eunuchs. We are not going to sit and take everything just because we want to have a good name that we will not criticise civil society,” he added.
Government has faced criticism over its attacks on some civil society groups that have voiced concerns over its handling of various aspects of governance, particularly as it relates to the extractives sector.
Accusing them of selective advocacy and trying to derail progress, President Irfaan Ali and members of his Cabinet recently blasted civil society groups which have called for greater government accountability and transparency.
Norton said he took up the issue with the US envoy. “In speaking to them we also established that there is a role for civil society and Jagdeo can’t be saying because civil society doesn’t go to the election they shouldn’t have a say. They [US] generally promote civil society and indicated that they are committed to strengthening civil society and working to build democracy in Guyana,” Norton said.
Jagdeo hit back saying that government wants to work with civil society but believes that most here tell untruths and are political.
Some bodies, he said, only consist of one member and government will support “support civil society when it expands.”
“Some of these civil society organisations are corrupt. They operate just to collect money from the international community. Some are undemocratic; it is a one person organisation. One man couldn’t get a job in government and he went off and… he formed an organisation that is one of the most vocal groups,” the Vice President said.
“We want to work with civil society but you can’t come and lie about it,” he added.
