US embassy “regrets” work permit revocation of Head of Democracy project

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 20:59 by GxMedia

The United States embassy here on Friday expressed “regret” at the Guyana government’s revocation of the work permit of the Head of the Leadership and Democracy Project (LEAD), Glenn Bradbury.

The embassy appeared to suggest that the revocation of Bradbury’s work visa amounted to a stumbling block in pushing ahead with joint talks on the project.

“The decision to revoke Mr. Bradbury’s permit is contrary to our understanding of the Government of Guyana’s commitment to review together the LEAD program and to the spirit of the discussions proposed by the Government of Guyana itself,” said the embassy.

Government and the governing Peoples Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) have repeatedly called for the US$1.5 million project to be suspended on grounds that the administration had not been properly consulted about its design.

The embassy in its statement did not say whether the move against Bradbury has resulted in the project being halted.

The embassy said it welcomed the willingness of the Government of Guyana to reengage in discussions with the United States on democracy and governance, and specifically in relation to the USAID LEAD project.

LEAD is designed to benefit the Government and people of Guyana through the promotion of understanding and consensus-building within the National Assembly; greater citizen engagement with Parliament; civic education on local government and greater civic engagement among women and youth.

The LEAD project implements the objectives described in the USAID Assistance Agreement for Governing Justly and Democratically, reached between the United States government and the Government of Guyana in 2009.

The United States says it “regrets the decision taken by the Government of Guyana, announced publicly April 30, to revoke the work permit it had issued to Mr. Bradbury on September 25, 2013.”