Political masquerading under the guise of civil society: NGOs must be held accountable too

Dear Editor,
I note with interest a report in sections of the media that Policy Forum Guyana (PFG)—a registered non-profit organization—has protested that it is being sidelined by the Government of Guyana (GoG).
Let me state unequivocally: this is a step in the right direction, and I commend the government for taking it.
The so-called NGO in question, established around 2015, has consistently operated as a political extension of APNU. If we are truly committed to transparency and accountability, then we must apply the same standards to these organizations that they so often demand of others.
The government ought not to continue engaging with NGOs that are themselves non-compliant. They must adhere to basic governance principles:
• Their bylaws must be publicly accessible.
• Annual reports must be published consistently.
• Annual General Meetings (AGMs) must be held in accordance with their bylaws.
• Who are their Board Members? There is no such information on their website as to the governance structure, its members and Board members.
These are basic requirements to meet the bare minimum transparency thresholds that are evidently absent.
Failure to comply with their own rules—and more importantly, with the legislative and regulatory framework under which they operate—must be met with appropriate penalties. Governance is not optional. It is a legal and ethical obligation.
Many of these entities are quick to criticize the Private Sector Commission (PSC), yet the PSC exemplifies transparent and accountable governance. It holds regular AGMs and publishes its annual reports without fail.
It is time for the relevant authorities—particularly the oversight bodies—to take decisive action.
They must enforce compliance, demand transparency, and hold these NGOs accountable under the law. Political masquerading under the guise of civil society must no longer be tolerated. The integrity of our democratic institutions depends on it.
Many of these NGOs—if not most—operate under the guise of nonprofit status while failing to uphold the very principles they claim to champion. They solicit donor funding for projects, pay themselves inflated salaries, and exploit tax exemptions, all while delivering little to no meaningful outcomes.
This is not just unethical—it is a betrayal of public trust and donor confidence.
It is time to call out these sham organizations for what they are. We must demand full transparency, enforce accountability, and uphold ethical governance across the nonprofit sector. The days of hiding behind the nonprofit label while engaging in opaque and self-serving practices must come to an end.

Yours sincerely,
Joel Bhagwandin