Guyana President calls for dialogue to continue

GEORGETOWN — President Bharrat Jagdeo has appealed to Opposition Leader Desmond Hoyte for them to continue their dialogue to resolve outstanding issues involving depressed communities, appointments to state commissions and boards, land distribution and implementation of constitutional changes.

Jagdeo has told a news conference here that much progress had been made in discussions with Hoyte since the high-level dialogue process started last year following the March 19 general election that his governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic won for a third consecutive term.

The President provided details of actions taken as a consequence of his meetings with Hoyte, citing, among other examples, the number of appointees of the opposition to state boards, commissions and committees and the land distribution process

He was reacting to a recent announcement by Hoyte that his People’s National Congress/Reform had decided to put on “pause” the dialogue in protest of its dissatisfaction with the failure by the government to implement decisions reached.

But the 36 year-old president, who has written to Hoyte for the dialogue to resume, told the media briefing — called to report on his participation in the Commonwealth Summit and other developments — that he hopes the dialogue “does not become captive or hostage to an internal succession process within the PNC”.

Jagdeo’s comment was in reference to the recent statement by the 73 year-old Hoyte that he did not expect to be holding office as leader of the PNC/Reform when he marks his 74th birthday in March 2003. He said he expects a smooth transition.

While there is no deputy leader to Hoyte, at least three candidates are known to have an active interest in succeeding him — Vincent Alexander of the University of Guyana, lawyer Rafael Trotman and the PNC’s current chairman, Robert Corbin, also a lawyer.

The leadership issue and the party’s assessment of the way forward after losing three elections since 1992 will be among matters for its forthcoming congress in August.

PNM sure on Speaker

PORT-OF-SPAIN — The People’s National Movement administration of Prime Minister Patrick Manning feels very confident about its success in the election of a Speaker to convene the new post-election Parliament on Apirl 5, despite warnings from the United National Congress of non-cooperation and moves to block anyone from being chosen.

The latest spokesman for the government to express optimism for the election of a Speaker is Trade and Industry Minister Ken Valley who will be Leader of Government Business in the 36-member House of Representatives.

Valley said that the government “has a plan” to elect the Speaker when the Parliament convenes and described as “reckless and irresponsible”, statements by former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, leader of the UNC, that there would be “craziness” when Parliament meets as his party intended to do everything legitimately possible to frustrate the election of a Speaker.

While outgoing Speaker, Rupert Griffith, a former PNM parliamentarian who had defected to the UNC in its first term in government, is preparing for a likely ceremonial opening of Parliament on April 5, Valley said that official confirmation was yet to come from cabinet.

Both the PNM and the UNC are planning to make nominations for Speaker and both are also contemplating voting against the nominees of the opposing side.

Unless there is a defection from the UNC to the PNM, or, as the UNC has been alleging, one of its 18 MPs is arrested before the Parliament is convened, it is not clear how the PNM can succeed in the election of a Speaker.

The Parliament has to meet not later than April 9, according to constitutional provisions.

Marking ‘Red Wednesday’

BRIDGETOWN — Students of the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies who were involved in a clash with members of the Royal Barbados Police Force a year ago, have observed the anniversary they labelled “Red Wednesday”, sporting T-shirts with slogans and images reminiscent of March 21, 2001.

What had started out as a peacful protest by students against claimed failures by the university’s administration to address various grievances, soon developed into clashes with the police, who were summoned because of a perceived threat to law and order on the campus.

Among 10 people arrested was law lecturer Rosemary Antoine, wife of St Lucia’s prime minister, Kenny Anthony. They were placed before the courts on charges ranging from obstruction to resisting arrest. But there has since been no development in the matter.

Antoine joined representatives of the Students Guild, including outgoing President Pearnel Charles Jnr of Jamaica, at a press conference where they recollected the developments of that day, stressing that it was a matter involving “students’ rights” and not any unruly or unlawful protest.

“Red Wednesday” is the description the students applied to express resentment against what was considered excessive force used by the police, and the ill-treatment of lecturer Antoine who was said to have been playing a “peacemaker role” at the time.

Since that day of protest, a number of the grievances have been addressed, according to the Students Guild, and they hope that other concerns will soon be resolved.