By Samuel Sukhnandan
The credibility of the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly—Guyana (IDPADA-G) has come under scrutiny, with Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, General Secretary of the ruling PPP/C, raising concerns.
Dr. Jagdeo referenced a news article from 2018 that called for IDPADA-G to be scrapped and replaced, highlighting longstanding doubts about its effectiveness.
He noted that the government had opted to channel funds directly to Afro-Guyanese groups instead of using IDPADA-G as an intermediary, citing concerns about accountability and the organization’s use of finances.
During the 3rd Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Peoples of African Descent in Switzerland, a representative of IDPADA-G alleged racial discrimination by the government.
However, Dr. Jagdeo argued that mechanisms like the Ethnic Relations Commission should be utilized for such grievances, which IDPADA-G had not done.
Minister Oneidge Walrond, leading the government delegation at the UN forum, received commendation from Dr. Jagdeo for her robust presentations addressing the matter.
The controversy surrounding IDPADA-G underscores broader questions about its role and effectiveness in advocating for the interests of people of African descent in Guyana.