–after meeting irons out concerns

THE Guyana and United States (US) Governments yesterday announced their having reached “final agreements” on the design and implementation mechanisms of the once controversial US$300M Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) Project.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, hosted a joint press conference with Charge d’Affairs of the US Embassy, Mr Bryan Hunt, following his usual post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President, in Georgetown.
Despite any modification made to its programme activities and implementation tools, the redesigned LEAD Programme’s fundamental objectives remain the same, to wit strengthening the work of the National Assembly and, with consensus, building around important national issues; providing civic education for local government elections; encouraging greater participation in civic life by women and youth; and providing Guyanese institutions and stakeholders with the tools and expertise needed to address challenges.

The two governments sought to disclose the outcome of “more mature considerations” of the project in the context of the good bilateral relationship that exists between the United States and Guyana. Implementation of the project is expected to commence shortly.

Dr. Luncheon disclosed that there hasn’t been much modification in terms of the project’s content. “More added in than what was left out; it is process. What we have done is to spell out in clear and unambiguous details the process. Where we are today compared to where we started has seen some alterations (within) the content of the programme; and in terms of the process, a fuller elaboration on the nuts and bolts (has been made) on how you are going to get things done,” he explained.
Dr. Luncheon said it would be instructive to recognize the effort that was needed on both sides to reach to this point. “There was a commitment to ensure that the benefits of a USAID LEAD Project were not denied Guyana, an overarching approach to getting us where we are today.

“A mutually acceptable regime was all that the Government of Guyana insisted (on) as an outcome of this process; and we are here today, representing both sides, to affirm that this point we are at represents the achievement that we both sought.”

Luncheon said the efforts that have been put into reaching this stage can only be reciprocated by equal efforts from stakeholders who are involved in the implementation phase of the project.

In respect to International Republican Institute (IRI) resident Country Director Glenn Bradbury, Luncheon said that, at Cabinet level, Bradbury has been granted a work permit, extension of stay and such like. Bradbury, whose visa and work permit were earlier revoked, is in charge of implementing the project, and has been in Guyana since September 25, 2013.

Meanwhile, Hunt offered that the conclusion of this bilateral agreement is cause for celebration, especially as it marks the culmination of several months of discussion on the ways in which the two countries can jointly collaborate on their shared democratic values.

Hunt said discussions that have led to this agreement have been lengthy and, at times, challenging; but he assured that, in the end, both sides feel that the project is now stronger, and has benefited from the additional review and consultations that have been undertaken.

“Thanks to the leadership of Dr. Luncheon and the input of his Cabinet colleagues, the LEAD Programme will be able to stand as a model of collaboration and innovative development assistance for democratic governance.

“The willingness of the government to participate in the design and implementation of the programme ensures that LEAD will accurately reflect the needs and interests of all Guyanese stakeholders.

“I have committed to Dr. Luncheon that our implementer will immediately undertake to begin consultative discussions and workshops with key stakeholders in all programme areas. In that regard, I am pleased to be able to announce that, very shortly, the LEAD Programme will be organising a discussion with civil society organisations with respect to public information and education in relation to local government and local government elections.

“This will focus not only on Guyanese elections regulations and voting processes, but also on the critical role that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) must play in the civic education process,” Hunt said.

The programme can now embark on its important work of facilitating conversations and undertaking activities that will “hopefully” yield to consensus and collaboration between all stakeholders, Hunt declared.

The LEAD Programme, according to Hunt, would provide tools, international expertise, and opportunities to help facilitate conversations and activities on important national issues, Hunt pointed out.

“As Dr. Luncheon and I have sought to develop implementation and coordination mechanisms, it has been foremost in our minds to ensure that Guyanese institutions are fundamentally defined in the agenda for both the LEAD Programme and the country’s democratic advancement.

“To that end, we have sought to provide existing Guyanese institutions – the National Assembly; the Elections Commission; the Women and Gender Equality Commission; the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport – with leading roles in coordination of LEAD activities,” Hunt explained.

Although things have been said and written about a possible hidden US Government agenda being present, Hunt said he wished to make clear that no such agenda ever existed.

“The programme’s only agenda is to assist Guyanese in charting and strengthening the democratic future that they themselves identified for their country. As I have pledged privately to Dr. Luncheon, I now wish to commit publicly: All activities undertaken as part of the LEAD Programme will be transparent, open to public scrutiny, coordinated within the agreed upon framework, and be responsive to the identified needs of stakeholders and for the benefit of all Guyanese,” Mr. Hunt declared.

Hunt said useful input was received from the Government, particularly in the area of youth and women. “The Government had a number of inputs on areas that we had not initially considered, that we have added in, such as economic empowerment of those sectors of society; things such as gender-based violence, which was not originally part of the framework.”

(By Telesha Ramnarine)