-several organisations selected
A recent two-day meeting to select civil society repre-sentatives to Guyana’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) has con-cluded with the selection of several organisations, but the process has been heavi-ly criticized by numerous established non-govern-mental bodies for lack of transparency and exclu-sion.
Stabroek News under-stands from sources that the organisations selected to the MSG are the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the Guyana Youth and Environment Network (GYEN), the National Toshao Council (NTC), and the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO). One primary seat for civil society reportedly remains unallocated. Alternates were selected for the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Women in Energy, and the NTC.
The selection process followed a decision by the EITI Secretariat to set aside an earlier selection conducted by a convener appointed by the Minister of Natural Resources, which had included the Private Sector Commission (PSC) as a civil society member. EITI standards state that the private sector cannot be part of the civil society constituency.
The initial controversial selection was convened by Komal Singh, a member of the PSC. The EITI Secre-tariat reportedly interven-ed, stating that the previous selection needed to be set aside, leading to a new process with a newly appointed convener, Dr Ivor English. However, the invitations for the new two-day selection meeting became a central point of contention.
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