Reappearance of “political NGOs” hiding under cloak of independence

Dear Editor,
Like the majority of Guyanese, I am not surprised by the sudden resurgence of some of the usual paper civil society organisations, which were missing in action between 2015 and 2020, and the emergence of several others which are either surrogates of these very ‘paper organisations’ or are set up by individuals with political axes to grind with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government.
These so-called ‘civil society organisations’, whose leadership and membership appear to be classified information, are out in full force, launching the usual unfounded attacks on the PPP/C Government. The reason for these attacks is simple: they are upset; they are simply upset that the President Irfaan Ali-led administration is developing Guyana at a pace never seen before. They are upset because their political handlers, while in the seat of Government, lacked this kind of vision as demonstrated by the PPP/C Administration – a vision that has already catapulted Guyana into unprecedented levels of national development.
This tsunami of development seems to be driving the naysayers crazy.
The vision of this Government is hard to question, therefore these political surrogates of the Opposition are left with only one option, which is to manufacture controversies and try to create doubt over the Government’s developmental agenda. Fortunately, the people of Guyana know differently, and are embracing the programmes, policies and initiatives of the PPP/C Government, and are ignoring the howling in the wind of these anti-development agents of the Opposition.
Guyanese are focused on the multiplicity of opportunities that are created by the Government; for example: owning a home, developing academically through the GOAL scholarship programme, job creation, business opportunities, the development of the country’s infrastructure, opportunities in the agriculture sector, and financial support received from the Government, just to name a few.
However, the sad reality is that we have people who claim to have the interests of Guyanese at heart shouting from the rooftops in trying to stymie the development of this country, which is intended to benefit its citizens; and when we experienced some of the gravest transgressions against this nation, these very so-called ‘civil society organisations’ were in convenient hibernation.
Therefore, we must call them out, and expose their clear political bias and deliberate attempts to stir up confusion in our country. Where were the one-man paper organisations like Red Thread, the Guyana Human Rights Association, Transparency International, and the rest of the gang which was described by columnist Freddie Kissoon as “The Usual Suspects” when the previous administration signed away our oil wealth via a lopsided contract? Or when APNU-AFC hid the US$18M signing bonus?
Where were these so-called organisations when state lands were being distributed to cronies of the then administration? Where were these ‘organisations’ for five years when our economy was stagnant and the nation was slipping into extreme poverty while the APNU+AFC leaders, their friends and family were enjoying the good life?
Why were these ‘organisations’ silent when the APNU+AFC trampled on our Constitution and refused to hold general and regional elections within the constitutionally mandated three months after the passage of a no-confidence motion on December 21, 2018?
Why were these ‘civil society organisations’ silent when Guyanese and the rest of the world saw the most blatant attempt to steal the 2020 elections by the APNU+AFC?
Where were these ‘organisations’ when, for five months, the APNU+AFC were clinging to power and attempted to foist themselves on the Guyanese people as the Government, despite losing the March 2020 elections?
They were either busy aiding or abetting their political bedfellows in the heist of our democracy, or were busy enjoying the good life to which the APNU+AFC elites were privileged. Now that the gravy train has stopped, they suddenly have a voice. Sadly, that voice is not one of reason, but one of hate and deception intended to disrupt the PPP/C’s developmental agenda. Their plan, however, is doomed to fail.
The simple reality is that the President Dr Irfaan Ali-led administration continues to fulfill its commitment to the Guyanese people of being transparent and accountable. The President himself has been engaging the local, regional, and international press on a regular basis, answering questions about every single area of his Government. He has never dodged a question. The same could be said of Vice-President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips, and every other member of the Cabinet.
In another missive, I will address the progress made by our Government thus far, progress that is unmatched.
But, for now, let’s ask these so-called organisations to make public the names of those who constitute their executive bodies. Those who provide a platform for these self-serving gripers to spread their misinformation must be equally condemned.

Yours sincerely,
Edward Layne