A major rift between several prominent African groups was put on full display on Sunday when a number of the attendees voted in favour of having the International Decade of People of African Descent-Guyana (IDPAD-G) scrapped, while a handful voted in favour of it restarting from the beginning.
The meeting, which was held at the Critchlow Labour College, saw representatives from many African cultural organisations, while some were clearly absent. Among the issues raised were the appointment of IDPAD-G’s Chief Executive Officer Olive Simpson, and the overcrowding of certain groups on the team.
African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) Head, Dr Eric Phillips, who is also Chairman of the Reparations Committee, told the gathering that a majority of the groups under IDPAD-G’s were formed last year. In an attempt to sell the audience on the legitimacy of the group, he said it was done in consultation with others.
Certain revelations were made during the meeting, including the fact that IDPAD-G
IDPADA-G’s Chairman Vincent Alexander
rented office space at 121 Regent Street, Bourda, Georgetown from Charles Corbin, the brother of former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Leader Robert Corbin.
According to Dr Phillips, issues like these need to be ironed out as they would give the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) reasons to raise concerns about possible conflicts of interest between Corbin and IDPAD-G’s Chairman, Vincent Alexander, who are also both Commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission.
Another point raised by the ACDA official was the fact that there were concerns over the proposed structure and strategy for IDPAD-G touted by the Chairman. Instead, it was recommended that five thematic areas – expiation, economy, education, equality, and employment – be used to craft policies.
But, more importantly, the ACDA official said the $68 million that has been allocated to IDPAD-G should be used to create a college of African village leaders. This entity, he said, should be used to discuss the many challenges, but more seriously the fear about the coalition losing the 2020 election. Concerns were also raised about many returning Guyanese being given prominent roles when there was talent here.
The meeting, which was chaired by Jonathan Adams, said based on the unanimous decision taken at the meeting, the vote would be submitted to the IDPAD-G management, who would decide on the next course of action. In the meantime, he called on the participants to fix their differences and work together.
In March, Guyana hosted the 2018 IDPAD Summit, which brought together more than 60 academics, black activists, and other expert speakers from around the world to focus on eradicating the plight of African descendants through the implementation of possible solutions.
The International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in a Resolution (68/237) adopted on December 23, 2013. It was subsequently launched by UN two years later, thus commencing the 2015-2024 decade aimed at highlighting issues relating to Africa and its millions of descendants around the world.
Guyana had subsequently established a local arm, the IDPAD-G Committee, which is the only one of its kind in the Region, and has received the support of the Guyana Government.
