[www.inewsguyana.com] – The government of Guyana has challenged the European Commission (EU) to explain to Guyanese the real reason behind its decision to withhold funds for the country’s sea defences and sugar sectors.
On Friday, January 23, the EU in a statement confirmed that it is withholding funds for the sectors until all “eligibility criteria, inter alia budget oversight, are satisfactorily addressed.”
However, government released a September 8, 2014 correspondence from the Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union in Guyana, Ewout Sandker to Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh informing him that the local mission has recommended to its headquarters in Brussels that €25,858,025 be disbursed.
“In light of the Delegation’s attached written confirmation of Guyana’s qualification for disbursements totaling €25,858,025, the Delegation might now wish to correct the misinformation contained in the press release it issued earlier today [January 23] and also explain to the people of Guyana what exactly accounts for the failure to disburse the sums since September 8, 2014, especially bearing in mind that Parliament was not prorogued until November 10, 2014,” government said in its statement.
Recently, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh noted that the reasons provided to the Guyana government by the EU for withholding the funds were spurious and unreliable.
“We have an ongoing engagement with the EU… spurious reasons were provided, reasons that have no basis,” he told Reporters on, January 19 at a press conference.
He said Guyana has met it obligations with respect to budget support payments due from the EU and now qualifies for a recommended €25 million.
THE FINANCE MINISTER CAN TALK CHEESE. THE PPP/C GOVERNMENT NOT GETTING THEM PEOPLE MONEY
HAHA well said ,,they think the world is like them ,,thank you
come on Finance Minister it is EU rights to determine at the last minute whether or not to release their funds. or are you planning along with the Attorney General to move to the World Court to have that decision overturn. sorry, only in Guyana courts can such happen.