Latest update January 18th, 2025 7:00 AM
Government must move quickly to close CI Guyana operations
Dear Editor,
The recent revelation widely reported in the local press, that CI Country Manager Dr. Singh has stepped down has sent shock waves through the length and breadth of Guyana in particular to the Region Nine communities where Dr. Singh work immensely with the indigenous people.
Dr. Singh joined CI at a time when the organization was barely surviving and had a very little fit for purpose function in Guyana. From then to now he has transformed the local body over the years as an entity of significant stature and into a financially sound and vibrant environmentally friendly organization.
So exactly what skills sets CI Vice President of Media, Jenny Parker (Newsroom article dated Nov 27th ) is talking about no one knows. She is clearly as her colleagues at CI HQ, very delusional. Cleary CI HQ wants to insert their own person at the helm presumably a non-Guyanese.
This was in the making a while now as was seen during Guyana’s celebration of International Day of the Forests, last March. CI was invited to speak. To the Guyanese dismay, Dr. Daniela Raid from HQ Washington-based office insisted to be the speaker even though Dr. Singh was widely expected to speak as is customary for local events.
All other speakers were locals or the local Head of Office (FAO and UNDP). This was an insult to the Guyanese public and a clear indication that Dr Raid and her HQ colleagues were all bent on taking control of the CI local office.
It was clear from the press reports that Dr. Singh didn’t agree with the thorny path CI HQ wanted to pursue. CI by its very nature was set up as a local conservation and environmentally friendly watchdog NGO.
However presumably through its HQ insistence, CI is now moving towards a highly commercialized operations with the aim of making profits and cheating the Guyana Government of funds that would have otherwise been allocated to the government.
It is also purportedly flouting the country’s taxation laws. That is the skill set Ms. Jenny Parker seems to allude that the company wishes to undertake. CI has become a haven for slush funds similar to what the previous government did with NICIL.
Funds that were supposedly taxpayers funds designated for the government’s consolidated funds were directed into this slush fund at NICIL and used for a series of nefarious activities. Only yesterday a former government minister was placed before the courts for using government resources erratically and we know where the funds came from, NICIL of course.
Similar donors place into CI, funds for environmentally friendly projects and supporting the government environment agenda. No so any more. Huge deposits were reportedly made from more recently Exxon, Norway, and GEF. These are now what are called into CI slush funds. The use of these funds is clearly not in keeping with CI objectives and in the case of Exxon, a major conflict of interest. The Local media and Independent transparency analyst have viewed the CI/Exxon relation as very questionable, conflict of interest and lack transparency.
I believe Dr. Singh was also in disagreement with his HQ colleagues on this and this probably was a reasoning behind his departure. He stands for transparency, integrity and accountability must be hailed by all Guyanese and international and regional bodies for his acute, leadership and high sense of professionalism.
It is widely believed that Dr. Singh’s posture and stands on transparency and accountability were met with resistance from HQ. This was clearly indicated by CI Head of Media, Ms. Parker, that they need a person that lacks professionalism and integrity and with sticky fingers for the job. Dr. Singh doesn’t fit the bill anymore.
I say slush funds because in principle these funds should have gone to the government. GEF funds always go to the government, so why now CI? Norway and Exxon funds should have gone to the government. Why do merry go round? This is exactly what NICIL did, create an avenue for corruption, lack of transparency and unaccountability. This is what CI is creating a heaven for tax fraud, corruption, lack of transparency, unaccountability and a medium for criminality.
Dr. Singh was in their way so they best fit was to get rid of him so Dr. RAID can have her way and Ms. Parker looking for a different skill set to fit the corruption bill.
With regards,
Mark Fraser
Social Specialist
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