Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senior Counsel Anil Nandlall has clarified that there has been no agreement reached for the reinstatement of the Government subvention to the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana.

Speaking to News Source this morning, Mr. Nandlall explained that the two sides have started discussions on the way forward, but he was clear that there was no agreement reached.

Mr. Nandlall, who was not in Court last Friday when the case came up, owing to travel duties, said he has received a proposal from the organisation about the way forward and has since forwarded that proposal to the subject Minister, Charles Ramson Jr.

Nandlall explained that the sides may still be a far way from reaching a final agreement.

The Attorney General said it was misleading for the Attorney on the on other side to gave the impression to the Court that an agreement has been reached. He said there has been progress in the talks, but no agreement.

On Friday, Attorney for IDPADA-G, Vivian Williams, told the Court that the Government has “reaffirmed commitment to support the work of IDPADA-G for the remainder of the decade”.

The State’s Principal Legal Advisor, Shoshanna Lall, who appeared on behalf of the Attorney General today, told the Court that “there is a commitment in principle to honour the work of the International Decade”.

She however, noted that because of the Attorney General’s official travel duties over the past three weeks, he was only able to receive a copy of the proposal from the organisation last Thursday and has since forwarded that proposal to the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport.

IDPADA-G moved to the Court late last year after the Government started to withhold its monthly subvention of $8 million that had already been approved in the budget.

The Government accused the organisation of malpractice and misappropriation of funds.

But the organisation rebutted those claims and released its financial records.

During an earlier hearing of the case, the Chief Justice said the issue was a national embarrassment for Guyana and should be resolved between the parties through mediation.

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