Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 01, 2014 News
…prepares for national summit
By Zena Henry
The emerging Think Tank Policy Institute Group, the Guyana National Council on Public Policy (GNCPP), is advocating that the country’s numerous non-governmental and Civil Society Organizations (NGO’s/CSOs) band together formally, to represent significant national issues with a collective voice and empowered constitutional status. The GNCPP, according to its leader, Dr. Philip M. Thomas is also feverishly planning to make such a move, an early reality.
It is for this reason the body is planning the first-ever National Summit of Civil Society Organizations. Within two to three weeks, the GNCPP’s brand new Head Office in Georgetown will be opened, launching with it a Secretariat to prepare for the summit.
This conference will witness the participation of Guyanese NGOs and CSOs, both at home and from the Diaspora. Invitations and background briefs are now in the process of being distributed.
With acceptance from certain world-renowned Civil Society advocates and planners to participate in the Georgetown Forum which is scheduled for September, Dr. Thomas noted that the GNCPP is now engaging in more outreaches to local civil society groups and international partners to guarantee full participation – from funding, constitutional protection and encouragement, to election on the projected National Civil Society Council.
The GNCPP and the Summit Event Planning Secretariat have also adopted the recent policy position taken by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in consort with other donor agencies and countries. Dr. Thomas related that, “A release informs that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has signed a joint statement, along with other multilateral institutions, governments, private sector entities and civil society organizations, aimed at pursuing inclusive and sustainable development world-wide.”
The statement was released in Mexico City last April, at the conclusion of the first high-level meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) and was supported by 161 countries and 54 organizations – including the IDB and 16 of its member countries.
“The GPEDC aims to bring governments, the private sector, civil society and others together to maximize development impact. The GPEDC was established in 2012 following the fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, Korea, in which development actors, including the IDB, affirmed their commitment to the key developments principles: country ownership of development priorities, a focus on results inclusive development partnerships and transparency and accountability.”
Dr. Thomas said that during recent outreaches which the GNCPP Think Tank members organized, representatives of foreign missions in Georgetown also reiterated the current policy trend of international donors: that a “tripod or tripartite” approach to foreign–assisted projects will be adopted. It was noted that, “besides the recipient or host government, the donor will engage relevant organized Civil Society interests to be prominent players in enterprises intended to benefit them. Civil Society must therefore be well organized structurally.”
“The GNCPP also notes with interest, that just a few days ago a former speaker of Guyana’s National Assembly and himself a 2011 Presidential nominee, was moved to observe that: “Guyana has lost fifty years to political divisiveness while countries with our level of development fifty years ago have grown by leaps and bounds … The people are now frustrated.”
“While there is trifling cored support of the skill-sets the political systems use in their governance of the country and management of our resources, a major sector of the society have shared that the fear of saying something and resulting resolute silence has caused then to become apathetic.”
“They see no possibility of progress, and daily, grow more disenchanted with the political system. They are rapidly disengaging and will continue to do so unless a way can be found within the next month or two whereby the Government and Opposition can develop a modus operandi for cooperation.”
The GNCPP chairman indicated that, “this valid analysis is another strong case for the peace-and-progress broker an organized Civil Society must become. Elections are a fundamental pillar of our democracy,” Thomas asserted. He continued that, “Guyana’s elections are stark evidence that political process, by itself alone, is not going to be the panacea for our overall progress so long overdue. An empowered Civil Society must take its Constitutional place before, during and in between all types of elections.”
Thomas is spearheading the experienced and diverse Event Planning Secretariat preparing for the Civil Society National Summit. He has advocated, since the recent emergence of the GNCPP, for local civil society to combine its strengths for a more vocal presence in the governance and development of the country.
Together with several organizations, some foreign-based, the GNCPP has commenced society empowering exercises. One such move is the ‘Caring for Others’ charity group founded by Guyanese-born Eslene Richmond-Shockley out of Atlanta in the United States of America. Towards the end of next month, the former Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara resident is expected to commence donations to Guyana.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]