Guyana Chronicle
May 12, 2001

PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo and Leader of the Opposition, Mr Desmond Hoyte yesterday agreed on the composition of six joint committees to address issues they have discussed since they began a series of meetings last month.


Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Reepu Daman Persaud and Mr Robert Corbin, Chairman of the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R) were mandated by the President and Hoyte to meet and compose the committees and report back to them.


The understanding is that the joint task force will undertake individual areas such as implementing provisions of Local Government reform; examine options for the resuscitation of the bauxite industry; urgently examine and report on a national policy for the distribution of land and house lots; examine the needs of depressed communities across Guyana and submit a report in six months, along with identifying areas where works will begin as a priority; examine the issue of government monopoly of radio and non-partisan Boards of Directors for the state-owned media and the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU).


The meetings which began on April 21 and continued on April 25, May 2, May 8 and yesterday, were initiated by President Jagdeo.


An official said the two met yesterday for about an hour at the Office of the President.


Mr Hoyte in agreeing to meet forwarded 17 issues which he contended needs to be addressed urgently in the interest of the development of the nation.


The following are the members of the joint committees agreed to by President Jagdeo and Mr Hoyte:

1. Local Government Reform:
Mr. Clinton Collymore
Mr. Vincent Alexander
Mr. Basil Williams
Mr. Phulander Kanhai, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government
Mr. Theo Earle
Mr. Llewellyn John
Mr. Khemraj Rai

2. Border and National Security Issues including Recapitalisation of the Army:
Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, SC
Mr. David Granger
Dr. Mark Kirton
Dr. Roger Luncheon
Dr. Henry Jeffrey
Brigadier Michael Atherly, Chief of Staff, GDF Mr. Peter Ramsaroop
Alternate member for Peter Ramsaroop: Mr. Raphael Trotman

3. National Policy on Distribution of Land and House Lots
Mr. Shaik Baksh
Mr. Stanley Ming
Mr. Joseph Hamilton
Ms. Myrna Peterkin
Mr. Andrew Bishop
Ms. Philomena Sahoye-Shury
Mr. Ali Baksh

4. Bauxite Resuscitation
Mr. E. Lance Carberry
Mr. Kim Kissoon
Dr. Clive Thomas
Mr. Herman Rohlehr
Mr. Ron Webster
Mr. Robeson Benn
Mr. Odinga Lumumba
Resource/Alternate member for Mr. Rohlehr: Mr. Claude Saul

5. Depressed Community Needs
Mr. Phillip Allsop
Ms. Philomena Sahoye-Shury
Mr. Theo Earle
Mr. Clyde Roopchand
Mr. James Mc Allister
Mr. F. Jaffarally
Mr. Burt Carter
Ms. Urmia Johnson
Mr. Harry Narine Nawbatt
Mr. Odinga Lumumba
Alternate member for Urmia Johnson: Clement Johnson

6. Radio Monopoly and Non Partisan Boards
Mr. Clement Rohee
Mr. Deryck Bernard
Mr. Sherwood Lowe
Dr. Prem Misir
Mr. Enrico Woolford
Mr. Ron Case
Mr. Roysdale Forde
Ms. Gail Texiera
Dr. Bheri Ramsaran
Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan