The signing of the Communique took place in the Credentials Room of the Presidential Secretariat, and was witnessed by a large gathering comprising: Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds; former President of Guyana, Mrs. Janet Jagan; Commonwealth Point of Contact, Mr. Chucks S. Ihekaibeya; Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran; Deputy Speaker, Ms. Clarissa Rheil; Cabinet Ministers and other Parliamentarians.

Following the signing of the Joint Communique, President Jagdeo in his brief remarks, opened on the note that he wants to “look forward to the future” and described the occasion as a ‘landmark’ for Guyana. He considered the signing of the Agreement as having great importance for our new Constitution.

Said President Jagdeo: “I hope that the engagement with the Leader of the Opposition would be an ongoing one.” He was of the view that such engagements with the Opposition should not become an event, but the norm.

Opposition Leader, Mr. Robert Corbin, described the occasion as being very significant. He however said that the signing was just the beginning - the first of an attempt at putting together the foundation of what can be built upon.

Former Information Minister and Attorney-at-Law, Moses Nagamootoo congratulating Opposition Leader, Mr. Robert Corbin. In background - President Bharrat Jagdeo and Commonwealth Envoy, Mr. Chucks Ihekaibeya
Corbin affirmed that it was not an occasion for victors and vanquished, stating clearly, that in this process, there are no losers. “There are only winners, and I think the winners are the people of Guyana,”

Noting that Guyana is at a very critical stage of its development, Corbin said he believed that if all patriotic Guyanese, interested in the future of Guyana work together, the country can still be made a beautiful place for all Guyanese.

Corbin said that the impasse was created because there were certain dissatisfactions between the two parties on a number of issues, adding that the ensuing process was not easy, but long and tedious. He also recalled that Mr. Hoyte’s death came at a very difficult time, when they had almost reached an impasse.

Mr. Corbin subsequently accepted the invitation from President Jagdeo to see if “together,” through a process of engagement, they could resolve the problems, which affected the progress in the country. He said that it has taken three months which have been ‘properly used’ by our various representatives to arrive at a Communique which addresses many of the concerns which the People’s National Congress-Reform had raised.

Said Corbin: “The communiqué addresses, in particular, many of the parliamentary reforms which we agreed to in the last Constitutional Process.

He recalled that he and President Jagdeo had very serious, long, tedious, and sometimes very difficult discussions, but they have been able to overcome them.

“But I think that in the end we have been able to work out an arrangement, which could make the nation happy, and ensure that Parliamentary Democracy could work,” said Corbin.

He said the Constitutional Reform Commission, addresses a number of unresolved issues which have been of concern to the PNC-R during the Hoyte-Jagdeo dialogue process, and it ushers in an era of Parliamentary Democracy.

Corbin reasoned that, while the signing of the Communique does not automatically transform Guyana or the Parliament into a Democracy, it does have potential.

He thanked President Jagdeo for his cooperation, and now looks forward to the implementation of this agreement. He added that the People’s National Congress-Reform intends to ensure that it keeps the good faith of this agreement.

In his response, President Bharrat Jagdeo endorsed what Mr. Corbin said, adding: “I think he has captured the spirit of the agreement…”

President Jagdeo said the agreement will ensure that Guyana’s Parliament becomes very ‘inclusive’ in terms of Opposition participation, adding that, in his opinion, today Guyana has the most ‘inclusive’ Constitution in the Caribbean, and certainly one of the most inclusive in the Commonwealth.

He noted that the Constitution not only provides for inclusivity in terms of Opposition participations, but it also addresses several issues that have been of concern to us.

Said President Jagdeo: “I hope that now the Constitutional bodies have been established, we can in a non-rhetorical way, really get down to addressing the issues.”

He was hopeful that the cooperation established will last long into the future. The President referred to the Ethnic Relations Commission as having the potential for improving the harmonious relations between our peoples of different ethnic origin - something absolutely essential if Guyana is to move forward.

He thanked the representatives who have worked long hours over the past months in trying to put together the finishing touches to the agreement