On Wednesday as the United Nations observed the International Day for People of African Descent, the Minister of Culture in Guyana, Charles Ramson Jr., dispatched a letter to the International Decade for People of African Descent General Assembly-Guyana, requesting the organisation’s financial records within five days.

The organisation IDPADA-G has been receiving support funding from the Government of Guyana since 2018.

Ramson’s letter to the CEO of the organisation, Olive Sampson was sent exactly one week after the organisation’s Chairman of its Coordinating Council, Vincent Alexander sent a letter from his Attorney to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo notifying him of his intention to file legal proceedings against the Vice President for statements he had made against Alexander and his role at IDPADA-G and its finances.

Alexander has demanded an apology from the Vice President and compensation to the tune of $50 million.

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. now wants IDPADA-G to submit copies of all of its financial records including payment vouchers, payroll, contracts, and receipts for all monies spent for the fiscal years from 2018 to the present date.

According to the Culture Minister, the request is as a result of “recent disclosures, publications, and public statements”, which he believes have provided a basis for the Ministry to have grave concerns which require a closer examination by the Ministry.

He reminded the organisation’s CEO that the Ministry on behalf of the Government has a responsibility to ensure that public funds received by any entity are spent according to the intended objective.

During a press conference three weeks ago, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo accused the organisation of misusing millions of dollars in state funds and not using the money for its intended purpose.

The organisation hosted a press conference a few days later, offering an overview of its use and spending of the state funds, and rebuffing the claims by the Vice President.

Alexander made it clear that he is a volunteer with the organisation does not receive a salary. The Vice President later demanded more details about the offices and buildings rented by the organisations and the people in its employ.

Alexander has described the Vice President’s statements as an attack on the African Guyanese organisation which he believes is meant to drive a wedge in the Afro-Guyanese community.

The Vice President has not budged from his statements even in the face of an impending lawsuit.

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