Mediation between the current administration and the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G) for the reinstatement of the organization’s monthly subvention has hit rock bottom.
The two sides were unable to resolve their issues with regard to the suspension of the subvention, and as such, the case will be heard before Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire on June 30.
Attorney-at-Law, Vivian Williams told the Court that talks with the administration were futile, especially since the organisation sought
settlement from the government.
Williams, in collaboration with Attorney Nigel Hughes, also made an attempt to offer a detailed analysis of what went wrong during the mediation process. The Chief Justice however declined to hear the explanation saying, “That’s not the Court’s business. When parties go to mediation whether through the Court mediation system or on their own and they don’t settle, all you come back to Court and say is, ‘we didn’t settle.”
Meanwhile, representing the interest of the Government, Attorney General Anil Nandlall told the court that the two sides failed to meet a compromise on the issue and as such, there was no longer a need for mediation.
“Unfortunately, we have been unable to arrive at a compromise that we had intended to achieve by the mediation process… and given the circumstance; the State has already prepared its Affidavit in Defence,” the AG said.
The Chief Justice however posited that there was no need for a trial but the case brought by the organization would be heard in full.
IDPADA-G is expected to submit its written arguments on or before May 4, 2023. The administration is expected to file its submission on May 25. The oral arguments have been set for June 13 at 13:30hrs.
Both the government and IDPADA-G had been instructed earlier this year to find common ground on resolving the issue. While there was progress reported two months ago, the administration in the national budget made financial provisions for a similar undertaking.
