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Permanent Forum: Preparatory meeting with IDPADA-G Member Organizations held Sunday, November 20, 2022.

The International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly- Guyana (IDPADA-G) participated in the First Session of the Permanent Forum for People of African Descent (PFPAD) from 5-8 December 2022 in Geneva.

Prior to the attendance of two representatives, a Preparatory Meeting to the First Session of the Permanent Forum on the International Decade for People of African Descent to IDPADA-G with member organisations was convened to gather concrete recommendations to take forward to the Geneva meeting.

  1. Guided by the November 20th Preparatory Meeting with member organizations, IDPADA-G made the following intervention and recommendations:
  • Links to the video of the Opening and Closing sessions Permanent Forum for People of African Descent

Click here to view the opening session

 Click here to view the closing session

‘Break barriers’

…President urges IDPADA-G Co-operative Credit Union
…says body must adopt new model for economic enterprise

By Lisa Hamilton

President David Granger has challenged the Co-operative Credit Union of International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G) to adopt a new model of operation which would enable it to becoming competitive with the formal financial sector.

At the First General Members Meeting of the IDPADA-G Co-operative Credit Union held via zoom on Tuesday, as keynote speaker, the Guyanese leader proposed a four-stage model for the transformation of the Credit Union into an engine of enterprise development.

The Co-operative Credit Union was registered on February 7, 2020 as a means to provide alternative options to African Guyanese which IDPADA-G believes have been affected by credit and financial support services skewed against them.

In his remarks, President Granger established that the United Nations (UN), in declaring 2015-2024 as IDPAD, openly recognized that Africans were the victims of the greatest crimes against humanity and have not yet overcome the legacy of colonial oppression and underdevelopment. It was in 2016, at the Cuffy 250 forum, that the President recommended a five-point plan for the Decade in Guyana which included African economic empowerment, one of the inspirations of IDPADA-G to launch the Credit Union.

However, the Head of State said that the old model of economic empowerment through Co-operative Credit banks and unions have served its purpose and the future demands a new model which drives enterprise development.

QUEST FOR ECONOMIC EMANCIPATION

Explaining further the perspective, President Granger said that the history of co-operative credit banks in Guyana — which existed over a century ago — emerged to meet the loan needs of African subsistent farmers and African basic household and emergency needs. He said that it was a “quest for economic emancipation” for a better life away from the oppressive plantation system and led to the Great Village Movement.

However, he said the early proprietors of African villages faced “formidable obstacles” in their pursuit of economic empowerment suffering, as a result, from economic exhaustion and lack of financial capital.

They then entered into collective ventures pooling their resources to purchase abandoned plantations for the establishments of homes, farms and churches with properties being allocated by shares or, in the cases of proprietary villages, there were arrangements for each person to own their own property.

“Africans left a proud tradition of frugality and thrift. Their capacity and propensity to save allowed them to overcome the lack of access to capital. Some retained the ancestral tradition of raising funds through informal schemes such as ‘box-hand’ in an effort to circumvent the difficulties in sourcing funds from formal banking institutions,” the President said.

When this proved insufficient to support economic activities, they turned to co-operative credit banks establishing them in several villages. Regrettably, the fortune of these banks were tied to the economic fortunes of their members who the President reminded were “principally, poor, peasant farmers”. It led to the collapse of the co-operative credit bank by 1912 but a revival in 1914 allowing for government loans and greater regulation.

Even so, President Granger said that though the co-operative credit banks saved small farmers from “loan sharks and assorted money-lenders”, it never became a major driver of economic enterprise. It was unsuited for modern competitive industrial and manufacturing business development. Cooperative credit unions were the successors of the cooperative credit banks but he said that only 30 such institutions existed as of October 2019 with a little over 24,000 members with estimated assets of US$28.9M.

A NEW MODEL NEEDED

The Head of Sate put forward that modern-day African economic empowerment in Guyana demands a ‘new model’ of cooperative credit unions. He said that this model must move beyond catering only for elementary stage of development —- the provision of personal and subsistence loans — to an engine of enterprise development.

He outlined these four stages as moving from the traditional or subsistent stage to the commercial or retail stage to the industrial or manufacturing stage and then the internationally competitive stage. “The ambition of new model should be to provide financial services from the level of the small farmer and household, right up to the level of industry. Financing is needed at the levels of micro-, small- and medium-scale enterprises, particularly in the agriculture and agro-processing sector,” the President advised.

“The ‘new model’ which I propose, envisages cooperative credits union as financial institutions with increasing assets, reserves, savings and shareholdings. The model is one which would see shareholding and savings widened and with a more diversified lending portfolio. All of this would necessitate legislative and regulatory changes. The ‘new model’ is necessary for economic empowerment. Its development is propitious for the remaining years of the International Decade of People of African Descent.”

He also pointed to a number of government initiatives such as the $50M agro-processing plant at Parika; the Regional Agricultural and Commercial Exhibitions (RACE); the Rural Entrepreneurial Agricultural Project (REAP) which can be sources for investment, sources through which many Guyanese are forming their own businesses.

He urged the IDPADA-G Co-operative Credit Union to carefully consider the adoption of the new model for it would give the Union the potential to compete with the formal financial sector. However, as it embarks on its new journey, the President said that he looks forward to joining the Credit Union.

During the First Meeting, remarks also came from Chairman of the Coordinating Council of IDPADA-G, Vincent Alexander who thanked those who played key roles in the formation of the Credit Union. He said that the Credit Union will work towards setting an example for good governance.

“The fact that we’re having this meeting signals our intention, here on, to ensure that the manner of conduct of our business is in keeping with the requirements and reflects best practices. IDPADA-G and all of its arms are intended to be an example to the community so that all other organisations can walk in our footsteps as we seek to achieve the goals of the decade,” Alexander stated. Chair of the IDPADA-G Co-operative Credit Union Steering Committee, Shamane Headley said that close to 1,000 persons that have already purchased shares in the Union.

Source: Guyana Chronicle | Lisa Hamiton

IDPADA-G Emergency General Meeting

On Sunday March 15, 2020, IDPADA-G’s Coordinating Council convened an emergency meeting of its General Assembly to discuss the well-being and safety of the African Guyanese community in light of the discord following the March 2 General and Regional Elections.

This Emergency meeting sought to address, in particular, the heightened racial tensions and racially motivated attacks against people of African Descent in Guyana. Members of the organization noted the restraint demonstrated by the African Guyanese community in the face of racially motivated attacks, and voiced fear for the safety of our entire community, considering the attacks on innocent school children, the security forces and random African Guyanese.

Within the United Nations framework, as the Country Coordinating Mechanism mandated to protect the interest of African Guyanese, IDPADA-G has compiled a report on this situation. Following a motion passed by IDPADA-G’s General Assembly, the organization submitted the report along with a petition to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the broader international community and the local Ethnic Relations Commission, to alert them to the recent acts of “racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance” towards African Guyanese.

On Thursday March 19, members of the Coordinating Council along with the CEO and representatives of the secretariat visited the families of five students from Western Berbice who were injured during an attack on their school bus. In each case, words of comfort and tokens of support were shared with the children and their families. IDPADA-G pledged to continue their support by providing mentors for the students, and to provide counselling where needed.  It was gratifying to observe the show of appreciation from each family for this visit.

AFRICAN HISTORY MONTH Exhibit and Lectures IDPADA-G at the National Library

The IPADA-G exhibit, Paragraphs of African History opened on January 27, 2020 at the National Library and remained on display throughout African History Month, February 2020.

This informative history exhibit consists of twelve “books”, each presenting a glimpse or “paragraph” of a larger body of the work of internationally renowned researchers, including Guyanese George G.M. James and Ivan Van Sertima. Numerous credible independent researchers continue to participate in the effort to depict the true contributions of the African People to world civilization.  The exhibit highlights some of their findings.

The historical period of the display stretches from 1966, the era of Guyana’s Independence, back in time to the African beginning of the human species and includes a review of the African contributions to Guyana, Europe, contemporary and ancient Nile Valley regions, and the Americas. 

In conjunction with the exhibit at the National Library, IDPADA-G hosted two lectures on the pivotal post-emancipation period.  Lectures by Ms. Kizzie Kitt, a researcher from the National Museum on “The Management of Villages” and the “Village Movement: its Significance in Guyana’s Economy” by Ms. Johnnell Henery, a researcher, allowed guests to not only view the exhibit, but to focus on and learn more about the struggles that forged the Movement.

The presentations set out some of the factors that shaped the very foundations of African Villages in the British Guiana post emancipation era.  Included were examples of archival documents illustrating the purchase of Plantation Northbrook (Victoria) and Plantation Cotton (Plaisance) and primary source documentation of the challenges emancipated Africans confronted as they sought to establish villages and governance systems.  The audience learned about some of the legislation implemented by the colonial Government to control and often stymie the management of African village communities during the 1840s to 1860s.  

Paragraphs in African History and the lecture series at the National Library have ended but thanks to the Ministry of Social Cohesion, the exhibit is now permanently displayed in the National Museum which provides access to the general public.  

Election of Committee Chairs and New Co-ordinating Council Members General Meeting

During the January General Assembly Meeting, member organizations selected committee members for IDPADA-G’s revamped committee structure.  Chairman – Mr. Vincent Alexander reminded members that the committees reflect the central pillars of IDPADA-G’s work and keep it focused on serving the interests of the African community in the areas of Education, Employment, Economics, Equality and Expiation.

IDPADA-G Chair, Mr. Vincent Alexander, addressing the Meeting
IDPADA-G Chair, Mr. Vincent Alexander, addressing the Meeting

Meetings were subsequently held to elect chairpersons of each committee. The newly elected Committee Chairs form the IDPADA-G Coordinating Council alongside the Chairman, CEO and co-opted members. The 2020-2022 Coordinating Council members are:

  • Mr. Vincent Alexander – Chairman
  • Ms. Olive Sampson – Chief Executive Officer
  • Dr. Simpson Da Silva -Chair, Economics Committee
  • Mr. Gladston Alert – Chair, Education Committee
  • Dr. Norman Ng-A-Qui – Chair, Employment Committee
  • Mr. Tom Dalgety – Chair, Equity Committee
  • Mr. Royston Peters- Chair, Expiation Committee
  • Dr. Patsy Francis – Co-opted Member
  • Mr. E. Lance Carberry – Co-opted Member
  • Ms. Miryom Levi– Co-opted Member
  • Ms. Ayanna Mc Calman– Co-opted Member

Election of Committee Chairs and New Co-ordinating Council Members General Meeting

During the January General Assembly Meeting, member organizations selected committee members for IDPADA-G’s revamped committee structure.  Chairman – Mr. Vincent Alexander reminded members that the committees reflect the central pillars of IDPADA-G’s work and keep it focused on serving the interests of the African community in the areas of Education, Employment, Economics, Equality and Expiation.

Meetings were subsequently held to elect chairpersons of each committee. The newly elected Committee Chairs form the IDPADA-G Coordinating Council alongside the Chairman, CEO and co-opted members. The 2020-2022 Coordinating Council members are:

  • Mr. Vincent Alexander – Chairman
  • Ms. Olive Sampson – Chief Executive Officer
  • Dr. Simpson Da Silva -Chair, Economics Committee
  • Mr. Gladston Alert – Chair, Education Committee
  • Dr. Norman Ng-A-Qui – Chair, Employment Committee
  • Mr. Tom Dalgety – Chair, Equity Committee
  • Mr. Royston Peters- Chair, Expiation Committee
  • Dr. Patsy Francis – Co-opted Member
  • Mr. E. Lance Carberry – Co-opted Member
  • Ms. Miryom Levi– Co-opted Member
  • Ms. Ayanna Mc Calman– Co-opted Member

BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

Having engaged with several small/micro business operators over the last year, IDPADA-G   observed that most of them did not have a clear vision of where they were going with their business. The others, while they had some idea this was all in their head and was not documented. This meant that most of them would end up where they didn’t want to go and inevitably the business would end at a place that was unexpected.

To help remedy this situation IDPADA-G took the decision to host a workshop to assist business owners to develop a business plan.

The workshop was held on November 6 and 7, 2019 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.

The target group comprised those business operators who had visited the secretariat for a variety of reasons including, overwhelmingly, financing for their business. Initially IDPADA-G had targeted thirty persons, but this was increased to forty. Thirty-nine confirmed their participation but on Day 1 of the workshop twenty-five were in attendance and on Day 2 there were twenty-four.

The workshop was facilitated by Ms. Shamane Headley, Research and Marketing officer of the Small Business Bureau, Georgetown.

Dr. Norman NG-A-Qui, member of IDPADA-G’s Co-ordinating Council declared the workshop open and, among other things, sought to  impress upon the participants the need for timeliness especially in light of the changing environment they will be operating in with the advent of Guyana’s ‘oil-producing nation’ status.

After appropriate ice-breaker exercises Ms. Headley launched into the programme which had as its primary outcome business operators equipped with the ability to prepare a bankable business plan. Among the areas covered were visioning, market identification, marketing plan preparation, customer profiling, preparation of a cash flow statement. The interactive style of the facilitation encouraged the full engagement of the participants who were required to develop their own business plans.

Ms. Olive Sampson, Chief Executive Officer, addressed the session highlighting the purpose for hosting the workshop and expressing her hope that the participants would be ready to raise their standards for operating their business.

The participants thanked IDPADA-G for hosting the workshop and the interest in seeing them become more successful business operators. They were equally high in their praise of the facilitator and the way in which she presented the programme ensuring that they got it right.

IDPADA-G launches Credit Union

The International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly Guyana Cooperative Credit Union Society Limited was launched on Saturday 6 July, 2019 at the Critchlow Labour College, Woolford Avenue Georgetown. The event saw hundreds of persons attending for the quick and easy process of signing up. They paid $1000 and became full members of the newly formed organisation.
IDPADA-G’s head office is reached on 227-7848 for signing up with the organisation. The Credit Union will soon being making its ways around the country to meet African Guyanese people wherever they are and to encourage them to support this great cause.

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