Stabroek News
April 21, 2001

President Bharrat Jagdeo and PNC REFORM (PNC/R) leader, Desmond Hoyte are to meet on Tuesday at a time and place to be announced later. It will be their second meeting since Jagdeo assumed the presidency in August 1999 and their first since the March 19 elections.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Reepu Daman Persaud, gave this information to PNC/R General Secretary, Oscar Clarke yesterday. Persaud and Clarke as representatives of the President and Hoyte respectively, met on Tuesday and are to meet again today to continue their discussions in general terms as to the modalities to be involved including the general approach, atmosphere, and the possible agenda for the meeting.

President Bharrat Jagdeo told the Guyana Information Services (GIS) before leaving for the third Americas summit in Quebec, Canada yesterday that while "the present atmosphere is not conducive to serious and productive dialogue", he still hoped that "the talks will proceed expeditiously to focus on serious issues in order to attain quick results."

President Jagdeo had expressed the desire for the talks with Hoyte to be conducted in an atmosphere "free from fear, intimidation and pressure".

Clarke, reacting to President Jagdeo's comments, said he believed that it was the other way around with the talks between President Jagdeo and Hoyte creating an atmosphere conducive to good order.

On March 30, Hoyte in a nationwide broadcast listed a number of issues he wanted to be considered. Among these issues are the immediate implementation of all agreed constitutional reforms; the implementation of a joint programme for the resuscitation of the bauxite industry and the Linden community within an agreed timeframe; an immediate inquiry into police brutality and extra-judicial killings and systematic police harassment of selective communities with a view to preventing their recurrence; the immediate end to the political monopoly of state radio and the introduction of independent management of GTV, GBC the state-owned newspaper and the National Frequency Management Unit; the depoliticisation of the public service including the appointment of a professional head of the Public Service; the enforcement of the agency shop and check-off system for the Public Service Union; the recapitalisation of the army and the restoration of its capacity to protect the national interest; nationally agreed programmes for dealing with border and security issues; and the implementation of legislation for the reform of the local and regional government system.

Hoyte had said, "if these issues are not quickly dealt with that will indicate a lack of seriousness about change, dialogue or collaboration in development."