No State funding for NGOs critical of Govt. —Jagdeo tells supporters

Mar 26, 2025 News

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Kaieteur News- Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said that the PPP government will only support Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that promote progress but not those that oppose the ruling party.

He made the comments while addressing party faithfuls at a PPP rally, to mark the death anniversary of Dr Cheddi Jagan, at Babu Jaan, Corentyne on Sunday. Jagdeo criticised certain NGOs, including the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA), the Transparency Institute, Red Thread, and the Guyana Press Association (GPA), labeling them as “haters of the PPP”.

GHRA has been around since 1979, working to promote and protect human rights of individuals and groups- irrespective of their beliefs and opinions- independent of governments and political parties. Red Thread is a grassroots women group that provides services to women and children who are exploited in unequal power relations, and simultaneously work to change those relations.

For his reasoning, Jagdeo contended that these groups do not engage in grassroots activism. “They don’t come out, they sit in Georgetown in a single office, they get money from abroad and they get publicity from Stabroek News and some other papers, and they write editorials there and they judge the country, they talk about fighting for democracy and principles but they all stayed quiet when APNU was rigging or trying to rig the elections in 2020,” he stated.

Jagdeo stressed that the PPP/C values activists who stood with the party, stating, “You know who matter to us, it’s the activist who stood up, people who stood with us.” He continued, “You think we would worry about what they say and the press association or whatever with the haters of the PPP.” He further asserted that these NGOs should be dismissed. “That’s why you have to be dismissive of them, they would say Jagdeo cussing the NGOs, well yes I’m cussing them,” he said.

However, during his speech, Jagdeo clarified that the government remains committed to supporting NGOs that contribute positively to society, but not GHRA, Red Thread and similar NGOs. “It’s these NGOs I am cussing, not the ones that support progress, the ones that work with children, they’ve seen their subvention grow by five-folds since we got into office, the ones that work with farmers or people to educate them, they can get support from us,” Jagdeo said.

However, he explicitly stated that the NGOs that are haters of the PPP will not receive similar treatment from the party. “But these haters of the PPP, we will fight them,” he affirmed. Furthermore, Jagdeo also addressed criticism of the PPP/C’s assertiveness, stating, “So, when we fight, they say, oh, PPP is too aggressive. Well, if you come after us, as I said before, we are going to defend our legacy, we’re going to strongly defend our legacy. Don’t come after us. Don’t come after us and misrepresent us if you don’t want to get a response.”

He contended that groups opposing the PPP/C are attempting to sow division and benefit from external funding. “Gone are the days when they controlled everything and lied about us, that is what kept this country divided for a long time. These naysayers, every day, every single day, they’re at it because they are as worried as the APNU and AFC about national unity, because if there is national unity, there is no space for them. They can’t collect money from abroad to create dissent among our people. That is an important thing,” he said.

In reacting to Jagdeo’s remarks, the Working Peoples Alliance, on Monday, condemned the comments about NGOs. The WPA said that Jagdeo’s declaration at the PPP’s rally, that NGOs that are critical of the PPP and the government will not be granted government subvention, is dangerous. “The VP singled out the GHRA and Red Thread in his tirade. This is yet another blow to official democratic praxis in Guyana. The withdrawal of subventions to Critchlow Labour College, IDPADA-G, and some African Guyanese organisations celebrating emancipation comes to mind. The practice of cutting off perceived and real critics of the government from state funding is unconstitutional and dictatorial. State funds do not belong to the PPP or the government. Since when pledging allegiance to the PPP is a criterion for NGOs accessing State funds? WPA again alerts the nation to the clear consolidation of an authoritarian order.”

(No State funding for NGOs critical of Govt. —Jagdeo tells supporters)

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• Bharrat Jagdeo, GHRA, NGOs, PPP

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