President Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader, Desmond Hoyte have agreed on the modalities for getting the Bauxite Resuscitation and Depressed Community Needs committees back on track.

They have also settled the problems which plagued the establishment and functioning of the advisory committee on broadcasting and have resolved that the government would lay in parliament by the end of next month, "a policy paper setting out the criteria and mechanism for ensuring fairness and equity" in the distribution of house lots and the allocation of land. This decision was taken as a result of the failure of the joint committee on land allocation and house lot distribution to fulfil its mandate.

A joint statement issued after another meeting in the dialogue session yesterday said that Jagdeo and Hoyte had agreed that Prime Minister Sam Hinds "would share additional information with and brief the committee on the details of the current arrangement pertaining to the Aroaima bauxite operations."

Prime Minister Hinds and the co-chairs of the committee -- UG lecturer, Professor Clive Thomas, and Guyana Geology and Mines Commissioner, Robeson Benn -- were at yesterday's dialogue session, which restated and clarified the committee's mandate. As a result, the statement said, "it is expected that the committee would pursue its mandate with renewed vigour so as to expeditiously complete its work."

The committee was set up to generate recommendations for resuscitating the bauxite industry and the communities which depend on them. However, it was sidetracked to address the issue of Alcoa's proposal for continued involvement in the bauxite industry at Aroaima and the future of the Bermine operations at Everton and Kwakwani.

The committee is still to meet and evaluate the proposal by the Bermine Employees Group for taking over Bermine's operations at Everton and Kwakwani. This proposal was presented as an alternative to Alcoa's plan for the industry in the Berbice area.

With regard to the work of the Depressed Community Needs Committee, which both leaders said was in need of re-energising, the joint statement said that progress had been "recognised in the electrification of Meten-Meer-Zorg and Non Pariel." However, it said "the Ministry of Housing and Water was urged to speed up the regularisation of the De Kinderen squatting area so that the programme of electrification could commence promptly in this area." No mention was made of the new members of the committee, which the two leaders said would be re-constituted. Stabroek News understands that the two leaders would meet members of the reconstituted committee on Monday, after which the names of the new members would likely be announced.

As regards the joint committee on land and house lot distribution, the action identified was a recommendation of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Constitutional Reform which required the government to lay its policy paper in the National Assembly by the end of December 2000. That recommendation also called for the establishment of an appeals tribunal to which citizens who felt that they had not been treated justly and equitably, could appeal.

In relation to the operationalisation of the advisory committee on broadcasting, the statement said that its functions would now include involvement in the issuance of licences as recommended by the Radio Monopoly and Non-Partisan Board Committee. Concerns had been expressed that the mandate of the committee had been confined to assessing content of programmes.

The statement said the Prime Minister had been authorised to issue letters of appointment to the members of the committee - Pat Dial, chairman and members Ron Case and Carlton James. President Jagdeo had nominated Dial, Hoyte had put forward Case and the private sector had nominated James under the terms of a memorandum of understanding signed by the two leaders. The Prime Minister had then appointed them as the responsible minister.

The committee should have been operational from December 3 but the Prime Minister said that funds had not been available to allow this. President Jagdeo later told a press conference that it was not that funds were not available but the extent of the funding was uncertain as it was not yet clear whether the committee members would be involved on a full-time or part-time basis.

Last month, at a ceremony to issue the licences under the new wireless telegraphy regulations which came into force in July, the Prime Minister assigned the committee limited functions. He had said then that the tasks of the committee would be to address issues of programme content referred to it by the technical unit engaged in monitoring television broadcasts to ensure they complied with the good taste requirement of the regulations.

The committee was established on the recommendation of the joint committee on broadcasting and according to the MOU signed by President Jagdeo and Hoyte the Prime Minister was compelled to accept its advice.

Following the March 19 general elections and the unrest that had subsequently erupted, Jagdeo and Hoyte initiated dialogue and agreed on committees to address a raft of crucial issues.