Stabroek News
May 8, 2001

Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Reepu Daman Persaud and PNC REFORM Chairman, Robert Corbin met yesterday on their committee-naming task and are likely to meet again today, prior to a meeting of their principals.

President Bharrat Jagdeo and PNC/R leader, Desmond Hoyte, will receive reports from their representatives, Persaud and Corbin, before they resume their one-on-one meetings today. The Jagdeo/Hoyte encounters began on April 24, and since then they have met on April 25 and May 2. The encounters are an initiative of President Jagdeo, to which Hoyte responded tabling some 17 issues that needed to be tackled urgently. Expeditious movement on these issues, he had said, would indicate how interested the Jagdeo administration was in dialogue and collaboration in ensuring good governance and promoting the development of the country for the benefit of all its peoples.

Persaud and Corbin were tasked by President Jagdeo and Hoyte to determine the composition of the various committees they agreed to set up to address a number of issues raised during their meetings.

Contacted by the Stabroek News yesterday, Corbin told Stabroek News that he and Persaud had agreed not to speak to the press until they had reported to their leaders. But stressed that if necessary, he and Persaud were prepared to meet before the two leaders met today. He declined to say whether the possibility of a second meeting was an indication that they had failed to agree on all of the proposed committees. Stabroek News was unable to speak with Persaud as his secretary said that he was not available.

Among the committees Persaud and Corbin were tasked to name was a Joint Task Force to undertake the task of implementing the provisions of Local Government Reform Legislation. This committee has a 12 months time frame for the completion of its work and it was agreed that the task force would have been set up a fortnight from April 25.

Another was a joint committee to examine the various options for the resuscitation of the bauxite industry. The committee is to submit its report within three months of its establishment.

President Jagdeo and Hoyte also agreed to set up speedily a committee to examine urgently and report on a national policy for the distribution of land and house lots (including relevant criteria and mechanisms). This committee is to submit its report within a time frame yet to be determined.

They also agreed to set up a committee to examine the needs of various depressed communities across Guyana and report back in six months. While this committee is at work, they agreed to identify some areas where rehabilitation works will begin at an early date.

Another committee they agreed to set up was one to examine the issue of government monopoly of radio and the question of non-partisan boards of directors for the state-owned media and the National Frequency Management Unit.

They said too that this committee would examine the enacting of broadcast legislation for the responsible use of the media. The time frame set for the submission of this committee's report was six weeks.

President Jagdeo in his speech at the ceremonial opening of the Eighth Parliament signalled his government's intention to table such legislation.