Guyana Chronicle
April 26, 2001

PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo and PNC/R leader Mr Desmond Hoyte yesterday emerged from their second meeting in two days smiling and laughing and reporting they had had a productive session.

"...we have had a very productive session and we are going to meet again next Wednesday", a smiling Mr Jagdeo told reporters with Mr Hoyte at his side.

Both men look relaxed and at ease in each other's company and a smiling Mr Hoyte said he and President Jagdeo had "a very fruitful session".

As they laughed together during a brief photo session and in exchanges with reporters in the Office of the President complex, President Jagdeo added, "We had a really good session..."

The joint statement issued from the two-and-a-half hours meeting outlined the progress they achieved as they continued the talks started Tuesday afternoon.

The atmosphere was decidedly different yesterday to what it was for the first meeting which lasted two hours into Tuesday night.

Mr Hoyte did not return the President's welcome smiles Tuesday and appeared grim at the start of the meeting.

But the mood was vastly different as they ended yesterday's session and both greeted reporters smiling broadly and laughing comfortably.

There was no media encounter at the end of the Tuesday session but photographers were delighted with the smiling faces the two leaders presented last night.

The two men began their second round of talks at about 16:00 hrs (4 p.m.) and wrapped up at about 18:30 hrs (6:30 p.m.).

The joint statement reflected positions both succeeded in getting on the agenda with Mr Jagdeo getting Mr Hoyte to agree that moving for further debt relief for poverty reduction and employment creation was a priority.

Hoyte also succeeded in getting on the agenda the issue of the state media and a committee is to be set up to examine this matter which his main Opposition PNC/R (People's National Congress Reform) had listed as a concern.

They among other things agreed to work together on the speedy completion of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP).

In this regard, the statement said, they also agreed to ensure that the resources identified in that process flow towards the reduction of poverty and the creation of employment.

President Jagdeo had stressed shortly after his PPP/C government was re-elected to office in the March 19 elections, that one of the priorities of his administration is moving the debt relief initiative forward and advancing the PRSP with multilateral donor agencies.

This is "a matter of priority", he had said, pointing out that the government had "also now just started to move the process forward, that is, moving from the interim PRSP to the full PRSP which would provide the basis for us to have the relief, because it has been approved for Guyana already."

He noted that Guyana had just months ago reached the "decision point" and was now moving to the "completion point" and once that happens the relief would then start flowing.

"We have been working over the last few months, but especially over the last few days, we have kick-started the process of consultations or at least planning for the consultations to take place across Guyana," President Jagdeo had said.

President Jagdeo said this would hopefully result in the early flow of the debt relief so that the money can be spent on projects here.

"This is our top priority at this time," President Jagdeo had added.

There were hardly any PNC/R supporters gathered around the presidential office complex even after one hour into the talks yesterday.

However, as the meeting continued, a crowd of less than 100 persons gathered by the Vlissengen Road gate on the eastern side of the compound.

The small crowd chanted for a while and gyrated to the sounds from a man beating a hand drum.

Some of their chants were, "Desmond, come out and go home", "We don't want no talks", and "No justice, more fire".

Hoyte left through the New Garden Street entrance on the west, like he did the previous night.

The crowd moved to the nearby 1763 Monument Square after the meeting ended and Hoyte had left but dispersed at around 19:00 hrs after policemen in a truck arrived and parked south of the square.

The joint statement issued after the first meeting said the PNC/R "recognises the government without prejudice to an election petition".

For that meeting a crowd of about 200 gathered on Vlissengen Road 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.

There was no disruption to traffic from protesters after the meeting ended last night.

The joint statement after yesterday's meeting

1. We will set up a Joint Task Force within two weeks to undertake the task of implementing the provisions of Local Government Reform Legislation. This should be completed within twelve months. We also agreed that local government elections be held as speedily as possible thereafter. To this end we will consult with the Elections Commission to alert them to this possibility.

2. As soon as the National Assembly convenes, Political Parties in the Assembly will meet to establish an All Party mechanism for the management of Parliamentary business.

3. We agreed to establish a Committee to develop a bi-partisan approach to border and national security issues and the re-capitalisation of the army.

4. We agreed to the speedy establishment of the National Procurement Commission once the constitutional amendment is passed.

5. We agreed to set up a Committee speedily to examine and report on a national policy for the distribution of land and house lots (including relevant criteria and mechanisms). This committee will submit its report in a time frame to be determined.

6. We agreed to establish a joint committee to examine the various options for the resuscitation of the bauxite industry. This report would be submitted within three months of the convening of the committee.

7. We agreed to set up a committee to examine the needs of various depressed communities across Guyana and report back in six months. In the meantime, we have agreed to identify some areas where rehabilitation works will begin at an early date.

8. We agreed to work together for the speedy completion of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper and to ensure that the resources identified in that process flow towards the reduction of poverty and the creation of employment.

9. We agreed to set up a committee to examine the issue of government monopoly of radio and the question of non-partisan Boards of Directors for the state-owned media and the NFMU (National Frequency Management Unit). The enacting of Broadcast Legislation for the responsible use of the media will also be examined by this committee. This committee will report within six weeks.

10. The Parties agreed to meet again on Wednesday, May 2nd to forward our discussions.