At a meeting yesterday afternoon in the boardroom of the Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) at Anna Regina, one resident implored the President to do his utmost in some sort of committed effort to resume the dialogue process with PNC/R and Opposition Leader Mr. Desmond Hoyte.

The President pointed out that he and his Government have always been open to discussions and committed to dialogue.

"I am prepared to meet (Mr. Hoyte) at any time but at the same time I am not anxious too. I am not going to be living in hopes of such a meeting that I don't do my work.

"I have my work to do and I have to go on managing this country. If he (Mr. Hoyte) wants to meet then I am available for a meeting but I am not living with the hopes of meeting with him", the President said.

The President also expressed optimism that the members of the Government could develop a stronger link with the "younger guys in the PNC too", since Mr. Hoyte is not expected to be at the helm of the PNC forever.

In this regard the Guyanese Head of State reassured Essequibians that his Government is always open to discussions.

"We're prepared to work in dialogue, but at the same time we're not going to compromise our principles," he said.

The President last year initiated a political dialogue process with Hoyte but the PNC/R put the talks on hold in March this year, citing differences with the Government over the implementation of agreements reached during the structured discussions.

The meeting at the RDC came as Mr. Jagdeo opened a two-day visit to Region Two.

He said that despite the many developments that have taken place in the region over the past few years, his Government is very much concerned about the level of unemployment and the problems affiliated with job creation on the Essequibo Coast.

He noted that Essequibo has benefited from a number of developmental projects in recent times but unemployment and job creation remain among the Government's priorities being addressed.

According to Mr. Jagdeo there have been tremendous developments in various sectors, including the decentralisation of several essential services from Georgetown to Essequibo.

"Anyone who is unbiased, no matter which party or group they're from, and who would look at Essequibo and say that Essequibo looks the same way like ten years ago, I would say that person is blind," the President said.

President Jagdeo also noted that in spite of all the difficulties in the country, including the spiralling crime wave, the Government had met all of its economic targets by mid-year of this year.

"We've seen that over the past year, by mid-year, we've met all of our targets that we've set ourselves in terms of growth in the economy within the targeted range.

"In terms of the exchange rate movements, we've had a relatively stable currency; our reserves were above target and the inflation rate was below what we had forecasted; the fiscal deficit was on track; our spending profile on the capital side was moving apace and we were getting more and more of our projects implemented," he told the meeting.

The meeting was preceded by several 'site' visits along the Essequibo coast as the President commenced his busy schedule - one similar to that which he had in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) last weekend where he met residents of several communities to listen to their problems so that his Government can better understand and alleviate them.

During the several 'site' visits yesterday, Mr. Jagdeo inspected the ongoing construction work being done at the Anna Regina Market Road and the Anna Regina Fire Station.

The rehabilitation of the Anna Regina Market Road and two other roads on the Essequibo Coast is being done to the tune of more than $60M, while the fire station is being done at a cost of $24M.

The President also met the Mayor, Councillors and staff of the Anna Regina Town Council.

He also took time off to chat with passengers and mini-bus operators at the Anna Regina bus park.

In addition, he toured the Anna Regina Municipal Market and the Bushlot new market where he met vendors and shoppers and had fruitful interactions with them.

The President was also very impressed with a private housing project he visited at Land of Plenty, which is the brain child of Essequibo businessman, Mr. Roopan Ramotar.

He also spoke out against the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) and its lack of adequate services to several communities on the Essequibo Coast, a problem which several residents raised with him.

Mr. Jagdeo explained intricacies involved in the GT&T monopoly but assured the residents that the Government is working assiduously in breaking the monopoly that the telephone company currently enjoys.

"Why should people who want to pay for a phone not get a phone? A phone is not a luxury anymore, but a basic commodity", one resident lamented to the President.

The President is being accompanied by Agriculture Minister Mr. Navin Chandarpal; Minister within the Ministry of Local Government Mr. Clinton Collymore; Adviser to the President on Empowerment and Community Development Mr. Odinga Lumumba; Adviser to the President on Investment Mr. Manniram Prashad and Regional Chairman of Region Two Mr. Ali Baksh.