Guyana’s Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira recently asserted that the government is committed to ensuring all citizens benefit from the proceeds of oil. She made the comment in a video address following statements made by two United States Congressmen, Hank Johnson and Albio Sires.
“We are pleased that our friends in the United States are monitoring Guyana and watching out for our interests,” Ms. Teixeira said. “We wish to assure them that we will continue as a democratically elected government to stand by our Constitution and the protection of the rights, the rights of all Guyanese, regardless of who they voted for and for what ethnic group they belong to, what gender they are, and what part of Guyana they come from, and what race.”
The official pointed to inclusion of everyone in the country’s growth as a basic tenet of the government’s work. She said that the administration’s work since it assumed office in August last year, especially with regard to COVID-19 and flood relief, are testaments to this. Ms. Teixeira added that the government is demonstrating that Guyana’s wealth will be shared with all Guyanese, before, during, and after oil.
Noting the protracted electoral saga last year, she posited that the APNU+AFC opposition has displayed resistance to principles of inclusion and democracy, as it had refused to accept the results of the elections. She nevertheless extended an olive branch to the Opposition, offering opportunities for dialogue on a number of issues, once it accepts the legitimacy of the government and its election on March 2, 2020.
“We are committed to the sustainable development goals… We are committed to constitutional rule of law, and participatory democracy,” Ms. Teixeira said.
The Chairman of the United States (US) Congressional sub-committee on the Western Hemisphere, Albio Sires had said during a June 23 address to a hearing on the Joe Biden Administration’s efforts to deepen U.S. engagement in the Caribbean, “In Guyana, where I travelled this year, we should work to ensure that proceeds of oil revenues benefit the entire population.”
Similarly, Democratic Congressman, Hank Johnson, said in a statement yesterday, “Guyana’s wealth is for all the people of Guyana, irrespective of their ethnicity. I urge the current government and leaders of the opposition in the National Assembly to work together towards further strengthening Guyana’s democracy and building a more inclusive nation.”
