The People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR)’s list of nominees for boards governing the Natural Resources Fund (NRF)has been rejected by a government-dominated parliamentary selection body.
The development is being chalked up by the PNCR as “another example of government’s bad faith and politics of exclusion”, as the opposition party fumes over the alleged deliberate sidelining of experienced and highly competent professionals.
The PNCR, the largest party in the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) bloc, said that the move flies in the face of the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)’s inclusiveness policy under the “One Guyana” banner.
Guyana Standard understands that the coalition’s nominees were: Chartered Accountant and Political Commentator, Christopher Ram; Former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Boss, Dr Vincent Adams; Economist and PNCR Spokesperson on Economics, Elson Low; and Former Politician, Economics Professor and Activist, Dr Clive Thomas.
Guyana Standard understands also that both Adams and Ram were nominated separately by the PNCR and the AFC.
The party boasted of Dr. Adams’ 40 years’ of extensive experience in both the public and private sectors in the oil and gas industry and Christopher Ram’s securing of admiration and praise from the Guyanese public for his vast expertise in law, finance and the oil sector. Ram was hailed by the PNCR as a “relentless advocate for transparency and accountability in government”.
Ironically, Ram has accused the coalition of attempting to rig the March 2020 polls, and has even named former President and ex-PNCR Leader, David Granger as the “architect” behind that supposed design.
The PNCR, now led by Granger’s successor, Aubrey Norton, says that “what should matter are the qualifications and expertise of the nominees and not their political or other affiliation.”
Notably, Dr Adams was an executive Member of an opposition party while he secured the his EPA position during the APNU+AFC’s 2015 to 2020 period in office, and is now a known affiliate of the Coalition, headlining opposition’s commentary on the oil and gas sector.
The PNCR is adamant that its list of nominees is far superior, noting “It should surprise no one that the PPP used its majority to reject these highly qualified and suitable candidates and advanced its list of less qualified persons.”
It scoffed at the government’s attempt to “fool” the public by describing its selectee, Dunstan Barrow, as a former PNC legislator.
It contends, “By these actions, the PPP has shown again its total lack of interest in transparency, accountability and inclusivity. It continues to strive for political dominance and control. The people of Guyana will ensure it does not succeed”.
It concluded: “The PNCR will continue to expose these examples of bad PPP governance to inform the Guyanese public, the international diplomatic community and other stakeholders.”
