This was announced by Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon, at his weekly news conference yesterday.

"The President disclosed his extreme concerns about the failure so far also to appoint the Leader of the Opposition - that was, of course in addition to failure to reconstitute the constitutional bodies.

"The President's concerns led to instructions being given for the PPP/C (People's Progressive Party/Civic) parliamentarians to meet and to select their members to sit on the to be appointed Parliamentary Committee. This Committee is tasked, among other things, to do all things necessary to select and appoint members to the constitutional bodies, the service commissions, the rights commissions and such like," Luncheon reported.

In addition, he said that on March 22 last, the President wrote Leader of the People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Mr. Robert Corbin and leaders of the other Parliamentary parties informing them of his intention to make initial steps in appointing certain categories of members of these constitutional Commissions, until a Leader of the Opposition is elected.

The Office of the President in a statement yesterday said, "the business of the State cannot be indefinitely put on hold. Vital services and key appointments cannot be put off for a longer time.

"We have given the main opposition party ample time to step forward and play its role as mandated by the Constitution. We have repeatedly sought their urgent participation and support for the processes involved."

The reformed Constitution provides for one category of nominees to be approved by Parliament; the second category deals with appointments after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition; the third category covers appointees based on the office they hold and the fourth category are appointees made through the discretion of the President.

The Office of the President said the PNC/R's abandonment of Parliament and the failure to appoint a Leader of the Opposition have prevented those categories which require consultation with the Opposition Leader from being appointed.

This has affected the delivery of goods and services significantly and equally significant has been the disadvantage borne by public servants, teachers, law enforcement officers and the judiciary, the Office of the President stated.

According to Article 184 (1) of the Constitution: "The Leader of the Opposition shall be elected by and from among the non-governmental members of the National Assembly at a meeting held under the Chairmanship of the Speaker of the National Assembly who shall have no right to vote."

The Leader of the Opposition has an important role to play in many constitutional appointments including: members of the Public Service Commission - Article 200 (1) (a), one of the appointed members of the Judicial Service Commission - Article 198 (2)(a), the Chairman of the Public Service Commission - Article 201(1)(a) and three of the appointed members of the Teaching Service Commission-Article 207(1)(d), the statement said.

According to the Government the Speaker of the National Assembly had convened a meeting to elect the Leader of the Opposition, but it was postponed at the request of the PNC/R Chief Whip, and an alternative date is yet to be communicated to the Speaker.