Stabroek News
March 23, 2001

In a press release issued yesterday evening the Carter Center said that on Wednesday, March 21, 2001, it had issued a press release with an attached statement drafted by President Carter. It said President Carter had shared a draft of the statement with the two main political party presidential candidates, Bharrat Jagdeo and Desmond Hoyte on Wednesday morning before leaving Guyana. While neither presidential candidate signed the statement, both indicated verbally to President Carter that they supported the content of the document, the release said.

The release went on to say that the statement covered principles and objectives to help to find a way forward for Guyana after the elections and reflected already agreed upon goals emanating from the constitutional reform process. It also expressed a willingness to cooperate in achieving these goals and creating the necessary supportive political environment. As such, the release said, the statement is a reaffirmation of shared principles rather than a signed or brokered agreement.

Stabroek News published a report based on the release in yesterday's newspaper. In a letter to this newspaper published in today's issue (see letters page ) Mr Desmond Hoyte, the leader of the PNC/Reform and its presidential candidate said the statement issued by the Center was untrue and misleading.