The Govt of Norway has an obligation to clarify this matter

Dear Editor,
I have seen reports in the media emanating from the Department of Public Information, which purports that the Norwegian Government recently granted approval for the release of US$50M to David Granger’s unconstitutional government as the final payment from the US$250M Climate and Forest Partnership agreement signed in November 2009 between then President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, and Norway’s Minister of the Environment and International Development, Erik Solheim.
This recent announcement, if accurate, raises a number of concerns.
Firstly, the European Union, of which Norway is a member state, issued a joint statement with the United States and Britain (ABE) last week, calling for the restoration of constitutional rule in Guyana and the immediate naming of a date for long overdue General and Regional Elections.
The ABE went on to state: “This situation comes at great cost to the people of Guyana. The prevailing political uncertainty undermines Guyanese institutions, compromises economic opportunities and delays development across all areas including infrastructure, education, health, and social services. It also hinders our ability to support Guyana’s development needs”.
I therefore question whether indeed Norway has transferred the $50M to Granger’s unconstitutional government and on what basis?
Editor, secondly, based on the 2009 Forest partnership pact, when Guyana achieved the set criteria in the agreement, funds are then transferred to the World Bank as the Trustee of the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) and it is only after the projects submitted by Guyana are approved by the Norway and Guyana government then the funds are released to the country. With this in mind, it is strange that the Government is claiming to have received the funds after the unconstitutional Minister of State of Guyana and Norway’s Minister for Climate and Environment, Mr Ola Elvestuen met on Monday in New York.
Has Norway deviated from the initial mode of transfer, or is it a case where the APNU/AFC is pulling another stunt to mislead the Guyanese people into believing it still enjoys international support?
I believe the Government of Norway has an obligation to clarify this matter.

Yours
respectfully,
Erin Northe