We may be heading for an economic crisis
-Hoyte
Stabroek News
March 14, 2002

Related Links: Articles on post March 20, 2001
Letters Menu Archival Menu

Opposition leader, Desmond Hoyte, says he dreads the second half of this year as he is seeing for Guyana economic collapse and political and constitutional crises.

Speaking with Plain Talk Host Christopher Ram on Channel 28 on Friday, Hoyte said he is always an optimist but these days that optimism is contracting a little. He said with the most careful analysis, he dreads the last part of this year and sees a possible implosion in society. He said he hopes an implosion does not happen and that is why he is pursuing the dialogue process and is insisting that the parliamentary committees to oversee the government operations do not have among their members ministers of the government.

Hoyte has accused the PPP/Civic and President Bharrat Jagdeo of acting in bad faith in the dialogue and Ram asked why he continues the process. He responded that the alternative will be going to the barricades and it might even get there. He said that he is giving the PPP/C and Jagdeo an opportunity to agree on policies and procedures, which would help Guyana create a cohesive society and create a perception that the government is good, fair and honest. "We have a duty to make that effort. If it fails, so be it," said Hoyte of the dialogue process.

He said many things worry the PNC and the easy part of the dialogue process is to agree on issues but the difficulty is implementation. He cited as one example De Kinderen, one of the depressed communities that should have received electricity over a year ago but which is to date still without. He said he has spoken with Jagdeo on the matter and has a copy of a letter Prime Minister Sam Hinds wrote to the power company asking that the necessary connections be made. However, nothing has been effected.

He also cited the Ethnic Relations Commission for which only now letters are going out to the various organisations to name representatives for this body.

Hoyte says Guyana cannot continue going along as it is going as there are too many angry people on the ground. He also noted that the country is in a constitutional crisis as the police, public and judicial service commissions are not in place.

As to the validation of the seventh parliament, Hoyte noted that legislation was to be crafted to facilitate this but the status of this is unknown.

On corruption and the government demand for evidence, Hoyte referred to the stone scam and the investigation by the Auditor General and even World Bank consultants. He also noted the Auditor General's annual report on government expenditure, which makes sad and depressing reading.

Hoyte also has no faith in the Integrity Commission, finding it a joke. He said that the body does not enjoy the popular confidence of the people. He has complied with the requirement for submissions, but Hoyte notes that it is not geared to investigate anything.