Stabroek News
May 3, 2001

President Bharrat Jagdeo and PNC REFORM leader Desmond Hoyte yesterday agreed on top officials who will meet to decide on members of committees which will deliberate on issues ranging from reviving the bauxite industry to allocation of house lots.

Following their third meeting in under two weeks, announcements should be forthcoming today on a new Chancellor of the Judiciary and the new Chief Justice. Chief Justice Desiree Bernard and Justice Carl Singh are tipped to fill these positions.

Jagdeo consulted with Hoyte, over these appointments at their third caucus at the Office of the President yesterday but it was not clear whether any decisions were made.

The President confirmed last evening that the issue was discussed and said his announcements on the positions would be made today. However, he would not say whether there had been any agreements on the names to fill these posts.

Outgoing Chancellor of the Judiciary, Cecil Kennard, reached the age of retirement in January of this year but his tenure was extended to the end of April and Jagdeo and Hoyte have since agreed that there should be no further extension.

The only decision so far of the Jagdeo/Hoyte meeting yesterday which was made public was that Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Reepu Daman Persaud and chairman of the PNC/R, Robert Corbin would meet to identify persons for the various committees agreed to in an earlier caucus between Jagdeo and Hoyte. Persaud and Corbin are to report back to Jagdeo and Hoyte on or before May 8.

Jagdeo indicated that at the meeting yesterday issues discussed earlier were followed up on and consultations took place on other issues including appointments to the judiciary. No statement was issued at the end of yesterday's session unlike the previous two sessions but the President assured Stabroek News that this was not cause for concern.

Asked whether he and Hoyte had decided that they should meet on a regular basis, Jagdeo said no such decision was taken but he believed that having such meetings were useful.

Jagdeo and Hoyte at their April 25 meeting agreed to set up a joint task force within two weeks to implement the provisions of local government reform legislation. This is to be completed within 12 months with local government elections to be held speedily thereafter.

The President and Hoyte also agreed to have a committee established to develop a bi-partisan approach to border and national security issues and the re-capitalisation of the army.

They also concurred on the setting up of a committee to speedily examine and report on a national policy for the distribution of land and house lots (including relevant criteria and mechanisms). This committee's report is to be submitted in a time frame to be determined.

A joint-committee is also to be established to resuscitate the bauxite industry and its report is to be tendered within three months of its formation.

The President and Hoyte also agreed to empanel a committee to examine the needs of the various depressed communities across Guyana and report back in six months.

A committee is also to be installed to examine the issue of the state monopoly of radio and the issue of non-partisan Boards of Directors for the state-owned media and the National Frequency Management Unit. The committee will also be responsible for enacting broadcast legislation. This committee is to report back to the caucus in six weeks.

Among other agreements between Jagdeo and Hoyte at the two meetings was the expeditious appointment of a National Procurement Commission, once the constitutional amendment was passed. They also agreed that as soon as the National Assembly convened (set for tomorrow), political parties in the assembly would meet to establish an all-party mechanism for the management of parliament's business. They also agreed to work together for the speedy completion of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper - required by international financial institutions - and to ensure that the process flowed towards the reduction of poverty and creation of employment.

The first post-election meeting between Jagdeo and Hoyte on April 24, agreed that the public service should be politically neutral and that the necessary action would be taken to ensure this was so. It was agreed that the position of Dr Roger Luncheon, the current head of the Presidential Secretariat, would be reviewed to ensure that the principle of a politically neutral public service was not breached. However, Jagdeo and Hoyte recognised that the appointment of Head of the Presidential Secretariat lay within the jurisdiction of the President.

That meeting also ratified that Justice Kennard's term in office would not be extended and that all pending constitutional legislation would be passed within one month of the convening of parliament.

Hoyte, at that meeting said the PNC/R recognised the government without prejudice to an election petition and the parties accepted that violence ought not to be a part of any protest. They agreed to work towards the lessening of tensions while recognising that progress on the implementation of the agenda was crucial to the success of their efforts.

They also agreed on an agenda for discussion, which included all of the issues raised by Hoyte in a national broadcast.