LEAD project’s greatest challenge was failure to see LGE – US Embassy

Jan 27, 2015 News

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… project to conclude by March end
By: Zena Henry
Despite accusations of interference and an almost sour split between local and foreign parties involved in

the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) Project, the local United States (US) Embassy has reported a “reasonably successful” implementation of the pro-democracy mission so far.
The Embassy’s Chargé d’ Affaires, Bryan Hunt, provided an update on the initiative that was introduced in 2012. During an interview with the Embassy official, he said that the project is nearing  its end, but disappointment has followed since its implementers were unable to efficiently deal with the issue of Local Government Elections (LGE). The now prorogued Tenth Parliament was unable to ensure the holding of LGE, he added.
Hunt said that while stakeholders appeared receptive to the information and training, the “greatest difficulty” dealt specifically with the non-holding of local polls.
“I think the greatest difficulty that we’ve had, related to the fact that we did not see Local Government Elections during the life of the 10th parliament. We had very much hoped that we would see a date set, and those elections proceed.”
“The fact that it did not happen, of course, means that we could not provide the level of training and support that we had hoped to under the LEAD project.” Currently the most senior person at the Embassy, Hunt thinks, “It’s very important that LGE do ultimately proceed.”
He is hopeful that under the life of the next parliament, a date is set, elections held and a newly elected local government arises.
“It’s been, in my view, far too long since the Guyanese people were able to go to the polls to elect their local governments.”
The LEAD project focuses specifically on the capacity of the country’s Parliament, young people, women and LGE. It aims at enhancing the technical capacity and functionality of the legislature through the regular use of consultative practices and mechanisms for legislative drafting, analysis, review, and passage.
The project is expected to further reinforce democratic governance in Guyana by broadening political participation through more representative and competitive multi-party engagements.
The USAID initiative had come in for strict criticisms from the government who claimed that the project proposal presented to Guyana did not reflect bilateral input of the Government of Guyana and USAID. They had pulled out of the $2.6B project “due to the agreement document being flawed.”
The government had explained that despite their reservations, the implementation of the project was still going ahead. They deemed it disrespectful and the work permit of Glen Bradbury; Chief of Parties for the International Republican Institute (IRI); implementing the LEAD project, was revoked by the government when they moved to stop the Americans from carrying out their work.
The departed Ambassador Brent Hardt was also hit with what was described as a “feral blast” when he insisted on the holding of local polls.
Discussions and subsequent agreements eventually lead to government withdrawing their non-approval for the project.
Hunt said however, that while the IRI has identified March as the project’s end date, there is the possibility of an extension if the need arises. He said that so far, the project implementers have been able to carry out a number of Town Hall engagements relating to the LGE system, in collaboration with the local elections commission (Gecom).
“Those (engagements) were quite important in laying the initial ground work. Obviously more work will have to be done once we have a local government elections date set by the next parliament, but we have begun the process of educating those casting votes in that process,” he related.
The Chargé said that a lot of work was also done with the country’s parliamentary staff in terms of helping them to be a more effective resource for the members who are elected following the next election. This will go toward providing backbone support to committee systems and members, he said.
The training of leaders of youth organizations was also facilitated in the areas of administering projects, creating budgets and finance management. This he said, is to ensure that these youth organizations play a more effective role in the country with support from the relevant ministry.
As it relates to the Women and Gender Equality Commission, Hunt said preliminary work was done with them as they looked at ways to further integrate women into political life and sensitize them as to the political process.
Hunt concluded that more work could be done in these areas and many more, but given the funds and short time, the project accomplished a lot.
While the project fell just around the time the country is scheduled to host national polls, Hunt clarified that the LEAD project was never designed to deal with national elections; it happened to come at an early date. He said however, that is not a part of the LEAD project agreement.

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