UK security project scrapped as Guyana dragged its feet

Oct 31, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
Yet again funding to the Guyana government has collapsed as the UK scrapped a $1.6 billion Security Project. This time there was no time-lined application as was the case with the EEC funding, but negotiation based. The Guyana government had failed to obtain the EEC funds due to sheer inefficiencies in working to strict deadlines. A late application was submitted.
The new UK project was to help with security and following the massacres in 2007 and the serious lapses in Guyana’s security. Project negotiations went on smoothly for a time and inevitably ended up in a fiasco. Tackling the problems of security for the people was soon sidelined as the Guyana government went all out to defend ownership of processes and sovereignty.
Venezuelans have been trampling on Guyana’s sovereignty over the years and established a standing claim to half of Guyana. There is no quibbling from government and politicians or any hint of a fiasco about this. The question that needs answering is why the glaring double standards.
The Pakistanis had raised similar issues with the $7.2 billion of US funding in the fight against terrorism. In the end the Pakistanis needs took priority as opposed to defending their power base. Providing their people with electricity and infrastructure did not imply that the US was trampling on their sovereignty. But vetting and accountability of the funding was imposed to curb unintended diversions and this had caused the lump in the throat.
The government made claims that they have refused to allow the British Special Forces to use live firing near hinterland community on the western border between Brazil and Venezuela. They also raised objection about being denied processes ownership.
In all probability the project was hinged on stringent accountability and proving difficult to swallow as another project funding ended on the scrap heap.
Dr Roger Luncheon did not explain why the training venue had to be located near to hinterland communities, despite the vast uninhabited expanse in Guyana. Something does not quite add up and Guyanese may be taken up a blind alley.
The UK has nothing to gain by seeking to trample on Guyana’s sovereignty, except to offer cooperation and to make valuable help available to countries that would most benefit. Those who have remained blinded by colonialism will never accept this. With grossly misplaced objectives, an adamant Dr Luncheon has threatened resignation and to stir up muddy waters for Guyana/UK relations.
Guyanese without fail would be the ones who will end up suffering and sweating to pay the price of failures. Yet again they have been let down by a government that is willing to sell them short and this time on security and protection.
Mahadeo Mahase

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UK security project scrapped as Guyana dragged its feet

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