Guyana Chronicle
April 25, 2001

PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo and leader of the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R) Mr Desmond Hoyte met alone yesterday afternoon for two hours and are to meet again today to advance an agenda they have agreed on.

The joint statement issued last night after the meeting said the PNC/R "recognises the government without prejudice to an election petition" and the two men are to work towards reducing tensions in the society.

This is the first formal recognition of the government by the PNC/R since the March 19 elections which the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won.

But the opposition party is said to be considering filing a court challenge to the elections.

The government has been recognised by the international community and several other opposition parties after the internationally-supervised elections.

The elections were run by the independent Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on which the PNC/R is represented.

President Jagdeo had made talks with Mr Hoyte a priority after the elections and earlier this month formally invited him for a meeting.

Violence triggered by PNC/R anti-government street protests in Georgetown and in several East Coast Demerara villages since the elections, flared yesterday outside the opposition party's Congress Place headquarters in Sophia on the eastern edge of the city.

The PNC/R said Congress Place came under gunfire from outside the compound Monday night. No one was reported wounded and police were yesterday awaiting a report from the PNC/R on the incident.

Protesters outside Congress Place yesterday overturned and burnt a bus, damaged two other vehicles, blocked roads, stoned the home of leader of The United Force, Mr Manzoor Nadir and threw a bottle bomb at police.

In their joint statement, President Jagdeo and Mr Hoyte said they "accept that violence ought not to be part of any protest and will work towards the lessening of tensions while recognising that progress on the implementation of the agenda is crucial to the success of our efforts."

They have agreed on an agenda which includes all the issues Hoyte raised and are to meet today "to settle the mechanism for moving forward", the statement said.

Arrangements for the much-anticipated meeting were finalised by Parliamentary Affairs Minister and representative for President Jagdeo, Mr Reepu Daman Persaud and PNC/R General Secretary and Hoyte's representative, Mr Oscar Clarke.

Hoyte arrived on time at the Office of the President for the scheduled 16:30 hrs (4:30 p.m.) meeting with heavy security personnel and three vehicles, two of which were used as an escort.

There were less than a dozen PNC/R supporters outside when Hoyte arrived.

However, PNC/R supporters began trickling in shortly after, some walking while others arrived in vehicles.

About a dozen vocal supporters started hurling abuses at those inside the Office of the President compound, while the others just milled around and waited.

A number of guards, including Hoyte's, were stationed strategically in the compound and were constantly rotated. They came in for some insults from members of the crowd too.

However, the supporters became disgruntled and with an apparent lack of leadership within the crowd, began arguing among themselves after a while. They were told to calm down by others in the crowd after which some amount of order was restored.

The more vocal section of the crowd went around to the Vlissengen Road gate and the crowd became larger and more vocal as time passed.

The crowd, of about 200, later began chanting slogans including, "No peace, we want war"; "Desmond, come out"; "No talk, more fire".

These chants, which did not last for more than five to 10 minutes each time because of lack of leadership and guidance, were accompanied by the rhythmic sounds from one person who was beating a drum.

By 18:00 hrs (6 p.m.) almost all the supporters were gathered outside the Vlissengen Road entrance where Hoyte's three vehicles were parked and where his guards were stationed.

But at 18:30 hrs (6:30 p.m.), Hoyte departed through the New Garden Street entrance on the western side of the compound.

The crowd gathered at the Vlissengen Road entrance dashed to the other street but the PNC/R leader had already left.

Vehicles going south on Vlissengen Road were forced to turn back after a few of the supporters sat in the middle of the road while others forcefully demanded that no vehicles be allowed to pass.

The joint statement issued after the talks:

1. We agree that the Public Service would be politically neutral and that necessary action will be taken to ensure this result. Within this context, the Parties agreed that the position of Dr Roger Luncheon will be reviewed to ensure that this principle is not breached while recognising that the appointment of the Head of the Presidential Secretariat lies within the jurisdiction of the President.

2. Chancellor of the Judiciary Justice Cecil Kennard's term of office will not be extended.

3. All pending constitutional legislation will be passed within one month of the convening of Parliament.

4. The PNC/R recognises the government without prejudice to an election petition.

5. The two Parties accept that violence ought not to be part of any protest and will work towards the lessening of tensions while recognising that progress on the implementation of the agenda is crucial to the success of our efforts.

6. The Parties have agreed on an agenda, which includes all the issues raised by the Leader of the PNC/R, and will meet tomorrow to settle the mechanism for moving forward.