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GNCPP takes civil society revitalisation programme to int’l partners
By Zena Henry
In the first of a sequence of visits aimed at engaging international missions in the revitalisation process of civil society’s participation in governance and the management of the country’s resources, United States Ambassador to Guyana, Brent Hardt, has pledged his support to the Guyana National Council on Public Policy (GNCPP) in its quest to awaken that arm of society.
During a cordial 90-minute encounter with the US representative last Friday, GNCPP Founder-Chairman, Dr. Philip H. Mozart Thomas and his team were assured by the envoy that, “the Mission will explore immediate avenues to lend support to the GNCPP’s 2014 Programme of activities.”
From left: Adrian Thompson, Attorney-at-Law, Rev. Pastor Dextor N.A. Sansaulotte, Shabakie Fernandes, Dr. Philip H. Mozart Thomas, Tracy Chan Smith, U.S. Ambassador Dr. Brent Hardt, Patricia Phillips, Norris Witter, Allan Fenty, Vic Insanally, Clarissa Riehl, Attorney-at-Law.
This includes a mid-year conference poised at attracting some 400 local and international Civil Society activists and organizations as well as very prominent guest speakers.
The Civil Society Public Policy Organization, GNCPP, engaged Ambassador Hardt at the Embassy’s Kingston location to discuss civil society’s emerging status and responsibilities in the governance of the country and the management of its resources, “as provided in Article 13 of the Constitution.”
Led by Dr. Thomas; an international corporate Attorney and civil society advocate, a ten-member team engaged in fruitful interaction with Ambassador Hardt and his Political & Economic Chief, Michael R. Fraser.
After outlining GNCCP’s vision, mission and objectives, Dr. Thomas explained that the proposed 2014 National Conference is “intended to give real effect to the status and responsibilities of Guyana’s Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and Civil Society Organisations (CSO),” as a major step toward the establishment of the first Guyana National Civil Society Council (GNCSC).
Dr. Thomas also discussed the quality and extent of civil society’s ethnic, social and capital standing, while highlighting the need for capacity, in terms of varied and vital resources to effect and implement civic education programmes that usher in a new dispensation of sustained fundamental changes which will provide for a vastly improved quality of life for all Guyanese.
He explained further that essentials to these fundamental pathways of reform are needed to structure a “new covenant in the form of a social partnership by way of a referendum.”
Contributions from other team members raised issues surrounding the civic component of the proposed USAID-administered LEAD project which has attracted recent contention. They also raised matters on the duty of the international community to support the work of local civil society “and the history of discriminatory governance which spawns ethnic nationalism, cultural racism and fear.”
Ambassador Hardt in turn, outlined the role of the Embassy and its related agencies in assisting local civil society and NGOs in initiating and/or sustaining their activities. The envoy also responded to the specific emotional appeal from one of the younger members of the GNCPP as he detailed some of his experiences with Guyana’s young people, who he claimed, “Are eager to avoid the adult legacies of racism, and are in favour of true inclusive national development.”
The GNCPP’s delegation comprised Dr. Philip H Mozart Thomas, Clarissa Riehl, Attorney-at-Law, Former Magistrate and former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Attorney-at-Law for the GNCPP, Adrian Thompson, A.M.E Minister Rev. Pastor Dexter N.A. Sansulotte, also an Executive Member of the Guyana Council of Churches, Veteran Trade Unionist Norris Witter, Amerindian Rights Advocate Patricia Phillips, Shabakie Fernandes, University Lecturer/Civil Society and Faith Based Coalition Advocate, Tracy Chan-Smith, Law Student and Youth and Student Coalition Activist, Vic Insanally, Advertising Executive and Allan Fenty, Public Relations Adviser, Columnist and GNCPP Communications Director.
The GNCPP took up an active role towards the end of last year after years of preparation to revitalise the country’s civic arm. The organization has over the past few weeks held televised programmes educating citizens on their societal role, while hosting discussions on the current affairs and its effect on the masses. One such issue was an increase in fear among citizens; a stance supported by a large number of the programme’s participants.
The organization is scheduled to open its headquarters in the coming weeks.
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