Jagdeo: Dialogue now, stop making excuses
Stabroek News
July 6, 2002
President Bharrat Jagdeo says he is ready and open to dialogue in the national interest, seeing it as the only feasible and acceptable way for the country to solve its problems.
In remarks at the reception hosted by United States Ambassador to Guyana, Ronald Godard, at his Cummings Lodge residence on the occasion of the US's 226th independence anniversary, Jagdeo said that he would continue to urge for dialogue resumption.
The dialogue between the President and PNC/R Leader Desmond Hoyte was suspended by the PNC/R because of dissatisfaction with the rate of implementation of the undertakings that the two leaders had agreed.
Jagdeo also strongly condemned the invasion of the Office of the President on Wednesday by a band of protesters.
Noting the unrest plaguing sections of the country at present, Jagdeo said, "we must stop making excuses and setting obstacles to dialogue." He added that it was the preferred way for the country to resolve its problems, and he would remain untiring in his pursuit of solutions to the national problems.
Condemning the events of Wednesday while CARICOM Heads of Government were meeting civil society delegations, he said that the unprovoked assault of hundreds of innocent citizens, and the wanton destruction of property could not be justified. "Just imagine the analogous situation," he said, "if a band of criminals calling themselves freedom fighters were to invade the White House. What would have been the response of the US security forces?"
There was no justification for terrorism and no grievance, legitimate or otherwise, to justify criminal and anti-social behaviour. Such acts and behaviour must be unequivocally condemned, he said, adding: "We will not cultivate democratic values by excusing such conduct. We must in this hemisphere summon the courage and find ways to deter such behaviour."
Guyana and the US were among countries in the hemisphere that signed the Inter-American Convention against Terrorism, signalling their commitment to erase "this evil from our midst." Acts of violence, especially against innocent civilians, should be condemned whenever they occurred, he said.
On issues in which the US has assisted Guyana and the wider Caribbean, Jagdeo said that the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) had served to enhance the region's prospects for increased trade and economic relations with the US. However, he believes that the CBI could further be expanded to encourage greater investment in CARICOM countries.
Stating that in spite of "our best efforts," CARICOM states were finding it increasingly difficult to attract sufficient capital flows and investment to their small economies, Jagdeo said he hoped US President George W. Bush's Third Border Initiative would be "sufficiently ample to address the many needs of our region."