35 African cultural groups receive $63M in funding from Govt

The Guyana Government has handed over some $63 million in funds to 35 African cultural groups in Guyana for projects in a wide variety of sectors as well as initiatives that seek to empower women.
The money was handed over to the 35 groups during a ceremony at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, on Thursday. Each group got just over $1.8 million.
The groups that received funding had previously submitted proposals for projects in a number of areas, including agriculture and purchasing of agricultural equipment; business; cultural training in drumming, teaching craft, cooking traditional foods and garment construction among others.
Some groups also committed to work in literacy, women’s empowerment and via education in African and Afro-Guyanese history.
According to Culture Minister, Charles Ramson Jr, Government is confident in the proposed projects and initiatives as well as the impact they will make.
“There is no preference or differential treatment here. All of the groups have received the equal amount of money. The requirement is, and what will form part of the agreement, is that the money be used for the project that you have submitted in your proposal…”
“We want to be able to show not just Guyana but the world that from Government’s funding, these are the initiatives and projects that have been supported to further the United Nations Resolution for the Decade,” the Minister noted.
The UN General Assembly resolution 68/237, proclaimed the years 2015 to 2024 to be the International Decade for People of African Descent.
Prime Minister, Brig (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, said this decade represents a significant global effort towards achieving racial justice, equality, and empowerment.
“What we are doing here today represents a signal and an important decision to ensure that you the people of African descent and the organisations that you represent benefit from the prosperity of this country…”
“By addressing the historic and contemporary injustices faced by people with African descent, this initiative aims to foster a society where everyone can enjoy their fundamental rights, dignity and full participation regardless of the racial or ethnic background. And that is what the Government that I am representing here today wants for all the people of Guyana, and more particularly, for the people of African Descent in Guyana,” the PM Phillips stated.
In addition to ensuring that all Guyanese benefit from the country’s wealth, the Prime Minister noted that the Government is committed to fulfilling the objectives set out in the UN General Assembly resolution 68/237, which proclaimed 2015 to 2024 to be the International Decade for People of African Descent.
“As we move forward, it is paramount that governments, organisations, and individuals continue to actively support and uphold the principles of the decade, ensuring that every person, regardless of their ethnicity, enjoys the full benefits of human rights and dignity,” he said.
PM Phillips went on to note the current Government “is a Government for all the people of Guyana…our motto remains One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.
The distribution of these grants comes on the heels of the Guyana Government halting funding to the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G), citing the mismanaging of funds.
Instead, Government has decided to distribute the money directly to the African cultural groups in order to achieve the objectives of the decade.
Government had explained that it stopped providing IDPADA-G with the $8 million monthly subvention after numerous persons complained that although they are qualified for assistance from IDPADA-G, they have been wrongly excluded and deprived of same.
Last December, the organisation filed judicial review proceedings over the Government’s refusal to pay the monthly subsidy. That matter is still in the court with a decision pending from the Chief Justice. (G8)