President's office releases Jagdeo's dialogue letter to Hoyte
Stabroek News
April 27, 2002
The Office of the President yesterday released a letter which had been written on March 15 by President Bharrat Jagdeo to Leader of the People's National Congress REFORM (PNC/R), Desmond Hoyte, expressing surprise at the decision by the opposition party to halt the dialogue process.
Circulation of the letter came on the heels of the PNC/R's release on Thursday to the media of a letter Hoyte sent on April 23 responding in detail to Jagdeo's letter of March 15.
In the letter Jagdeo listed seven areas which he said he and Hoyte had "reviewed" and shared information.
On the report of the border and national security committee, Jagdeo's letter said the report was to be tabled in the National Assembly for the consideration of the yet-to-be-appointed sectoral committee on foreign affairs after declassification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hoyte in his April 23 letter said that while commendable, it was still a promise to be fulfilled.
On the national policy on distribution of land and house lots, Jagdeo's letter had proposed that the deadline for a report for the Housing Minister be extended from February 2002 to March 2002 because the sectoral committees were yet to be constituted. Hoyte's April 23 response was that there was no agreement for a March extension and even so that date had elapsed and the report is still to be laid.
On the electrification of De Kinderen, Jagdeo's March 15 letter noted that regularisation was necessary as per letter from Housing Minister Shaik Baksh which had been shared with Hoyte on February 19. Hoyte's April 23 response said among other things that Baksh should have recognised that regularisation was a priority since May 2001.
Jagdeo's letter had said that the report of the committee on the radio monopoly and non-partisan boards was sent to the AG's Chambers for the drafting of the necessary legislation. Hoyte's April 23 letter had said that that was a mere promise and that the boards could be appointed without the legislation.
On the non-constituting of the Ethnic Relations Commission, Jagdeo's correspondence pointed to the inaction of the Clerk of the National Assembly. Hoyte's letter expressed surprise at the government claim that it was frustrated for over one year by the inaction of one public functionary.
On membership of state boards, Jagdeo's letter said that over 50 PNC/R nominees had been appointed to the boards and the reasons for the refusal of the few others had been explained to the PNC/R. Hoyte's letter rejected this latter assertion and listed difficulties it had had in getting information on the number of state boards.
Referring to the impasse over the parliamentary management committee and sectoral committees, Jagdeo's letter had pointed out that he had suggested that the two leaders deal with it themselves. Hoyte's April 23 response was that Jagdeo had made that proposal before and the representatives of the two leaders had been mandated to resolve the issues but that other impediments were thrown up which had nothing to do with the PNC/R.
Hoyte's letter said until the decisions agreed had been implemented the dialogue would remain suspended.