Stabroek News
April 24, 2001

President Bharrat Jagdeo and PNC REFORM leader, Desmond Hoyte, are to meet at 4:30 pm today at the Office of the President, but the PNC/R is yet to be informed about any concerns that the President would want to raise in the talks.

The PPP/C and the PNC/R emerged as the top parties at the March 19, elections but there is dissatisfaction among PNC/R supporters at some of them being disenfranchised, which has denied them the opportunity of gaining more representation in the National Assembly, among other complaints.

The timing of the meeting was communicated to PNC/R General Secretary, Oscar Clarke, yesterday following the information given to him last week that the talks would be held today. The talks are being held at the initiative of President Jagdeo. Hoyte had responded favourably having told his party members and supporters that logic dictated that there should be negotiations between the PPP/Civic and the PNC/R.

However, President Jagdeo has expressed the desire that the talks should be held in an atmosphere free from fear, intimidation and pressure. On the other hand, Hoyte, has said that his party had to negotiate from a position of strength. In pursuance of this stance, the PNC/R has been staging a number of street protests and vigils around the city. During some of these protests there have been attacks on some citizens and some businesses have been forced to close their doors. However, the PNC/R has condemned these acts by criminal elements among the protestors and its supporters have turned over a number of these thugs to the police.