Guyana row heats up
By KAMAL PERSAD
PNC steps up attack on presidential appointment GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CANA: THE OPPOSITION People's National Congress (PNC) yesterday stepped up its attack on the process under which former Guyana Finance Minister Bharat Jadgeo was sworn in as President last week. Jagdeo was hand-picked ahead of the resignation of the President. The Prime Minister (Sam Hinds) had to step down so Jagdeo could be sworn in as Prime Minister. Then Jagdeo was sworn in as President, replacing the elderly and ailing Mrs. Janet Jagan. "The People's National Congress finds the entire process by which the new President has come to office quite objectionable," a PNC statement issued in Georgetown said. "Firstly, there is the unacceptable and dangerous precedent being set by the manipulation of the country's constitution in order to achieve a personal wish of the outgoing President. "Mrs. Jagan by her actions in this matter continues to show contempt for our constitution and our laws. The nation cannot forget the spectacle of her casting away of the Court Order at the time of her own infamous accession to the Presidency. "Secondly, the refusal of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Derek Jagan, to allow the matter to be debated in the Parliament, where, in our opinion, the announcement by Mrs. Jagan of her intention to demit office should have been made in the first place, is another indication of the PPP's disrespect for this, the highest representative forum in our country. "Mr. Bharat Jagdeo's accession to the Presidency in the foregoing circumstances does not auger well for the establishment of the good relations with the opposition which he hoped for in his accession speech," the statement added. Meanwhile, St. Lucia's Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny Anthony, is expected to head for Guyana sometime this week for talks with President Jagdeo on the Caribbean Community's continuous role in the Guyana political process, a spokesman for the St. Lucian Prime Minister said. Jagdeo is reported to have responded promptly to Dr. Anthony's request for an early meeting. Dr. Anthony, who has been charged with overseeing responsibility for Guyana on behalf of CARICOM, is expected to be faced with a packed agenda during the visit, the spokesman said. According to the spokesman, Anthony is down to meet representatives of all political parties, including the People's Progressive Party (PPP), the Civic group and the opposition People's National Congress (PNC) in addition to the CARICOM Secretary General and his representatives.
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