GENERAL Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo has called out Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Vincent Henry for his alleged misuse of funds allocated for hinterland communities during his time in office, questioning his current criticisms of the government’s efforts.
The accusations centre on the misuse of funds from the Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme under the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC), which was intended to uplift some of the most underserved regions of the country.

During a press conference last Thursday, Jagdeo did not hold back as he addressed what he described as the “sordid history of disrespect” exhibited by Henry and other opposition figures towards Guyana’s indigenous populations.
Among the most troubling accusations is the case involving a $19 million grant allocated for the construction and furnishing of a multipurpose building in Shulinab Village, a project that has reportedly stalled and remains incomplete.
“Not a word was spoken about this guy in the APNU period—the biggest allocation of funds in Region Nine went to him through the SLED program…. Ask him how that money was distributed, how many cows they were selling, and all kinds of stuff.

“He got that as the MP through this SLED program. Not a word about that in the Stabroek News article or Kaieteur News about their sordid history of disrespect with the Amerindian communities,” Jagdeo stated emphatically.
Jagdeo’s comments come amid ongoing criticisms from the opposition regarding the current government’s handling of development projects in the hinterland regions.
Henry has been vocal in his criticism, accusing the administration of neglecting indigenous communities and failing to fulfil its promises.
However, Jagdeo turned the tables by questioning Henry’s credibility and transparency, particularly in the management of public funds intended for these vulnerable communities.

To further substantiate his claims, Jagdeo referenced an audit report that detailed the alleged mismanagement of SLED funds.
The report highlighted a visit to Shulinab Village by an investigative team, during which the Treasurer of the Shulinab Women’s Development Cooperative Society Limited, Leandra Eusebio, was interviewed.
Eusebio revealed that the grant for the project was given directly to a contractor and that she was unaware of the amount of the SLED grant.

She also disclosed that the Society had initially requested an extension to their existing building, but was advised by Henry to propose a completely new facility instead.
Eusebio’s statements raised serious concerns about the transparency and management of the project.

She indicated that there were no documents available regarding the receipt of the SLED grants or the construction process.
Additionally, the investigative team found that the facility, funded by the SLED program, lacked basic utilities such as potable water and electricity, rendering it unusable for the community.
Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton had previously weighed in on the matter, providing further details from the audit report.
According to Hamilton, the biggest allocation of SLED funds in Region Nine—totalling $169,489,990—went to Vincent Henry.

“I want the people of Guyana to know where these funds went. These are monies that were intended to develop various communities and projects, but based on the report, you will see how millions of dollars were mismanaged,” Hamilton had told the media.
The audit revealed that Henry was the awardee of a contract to construct a multi-purpose building at Katoka Village, a project that was never completed.
Moreover, it was disclosed that Henry’s son, Vincent Henry Jr., received a grant for the Shulinab Village Irrigated Pasture project, which has since been abandoned.
Hamilton also noted that another of Henry’s sons was involved in questionable transactions, selling cows to his brother using funds from the SLED program.
These revelations have only added to the cloud of suspicion surrounding Henry’s management of the funds.

Despite these damning findings, Henry has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he never received any money directly for the projects and that he only assisted groups in his region with constructing their proposals.
He has accused the PPP/C-led government of attempting to tarnish his reputation because of his outspoken stance on indigenous issues.
However, Jagdeo dismissed these claims and warned that Henry’s attempts to shift blame or cry foul only serve to distract from the genuine issue at hand—the misuse of public funds intended for the development of hinterland communities.
“Now they’re concerned. Oh, they’re worried about all these projects being done in Amerindian communities. People may support the PPP.”

“If they support the PPP, it’s because we focus on their development, we treat people with respect, and we have achievements in these areas. But you know, now they’re very, very concerned and you notice it’s the usual suspects,” Jagdeo said.
The Ministry of Labour’s records indicate that a total of $234.644 million was distributed across various regions through the SLED program.
Of this amount, over $21 million went to individuals, while more than $212 million was allocated to co-operative societies.
However, many of these co-operatives were reportedly not registered with the Ministry of Labour’s co-op division, raising further questions about the oversight and management of the funds during Henry’s tenure.