By Kurt Campbell
[www.inewsguyana.com] – To disclose what appears to be a compromised position reached in relation to the contentious USAID funded Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) Project, Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr. Roger Luncheon has announced that himself and the United States Ambassador to Guyana Brent Hardt will address the media at a joint press conference tomorrow morning (Thursday, May 8) at the Office of the President (OP).
Speaking at a post Cabinet media conference today, Dr. Luncheon defended utterances by the ruling Party which stated that Hardt was a meddler in local politics.
The Cabinet Secretary said the Ambassador tested the nerve of the administration during his stay in Guyana, adding that his most recent activities send the hint that he may want to leave in fine style.
According to Luncheon, the news conference tomorrow will address issues surrounding the LEAD Project. He said as it is, the matter remains an unsettled one and anticipates that it will be resolved soon.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Secretary took the opportunity to clarify what he deemed misrepresented reports in the media which were attributed to Hardt, claiming that the LEAD project was approved by the 2009 agreement between the government and USAID.
Luncheon said Cabinet views this with distaste and rejects in its entirety the notion by the Ambassador. He said the LEAD project was not the subject of any agreement and maintained that it was conceived, designed and approved without the input of the government.
“Cabinet objects to any resort to the provisions of the 2009 agreement to provide legitimacy for the unilateral and imposed act by the U.S authorities.”
![PPP General Secretary, Clement Rohee and US Ambassador, Brent Hardt. [iNews' Photo]](https://i0.wp.com/www.inewsguyana.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMG_7633.jpg)
Dr. Luncheon summarized that it was an unacceptable interpretation, designed to confuse all and sundry.
Only yesterday, Hardt registered his unrelenting commitment to the implementation of the Project.
He hopes that despite the rejection by the Guyana Government and the recent revocation of the work permit of the Glenn Bradbury, who was tasked with implementing the Project, a way forward can be found.
