The conference is scheduled for July to look at social and economic issues in Guyana.

A source close to the Government’s Foreign Policy formulation process told Chronicle that President Bharrat Jagdeo is expected to make a definitive statement next week on the Government’s participation in the conference, being hosted by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The usually informed source pointed out that the Government’s concerns relate to the usefulness of the conference in the current domestic political context. It was noted that the conference was first suggested late last year as an effort to end the political stalemate that existed then. Since then, the political environment has thawed following the start of constructive engagement between President Jagdeo and Mr. Robert Corbin of the PNCR.

Noting that the Conference would be very costly, the source suggested that sums allocated could be better used if provided to Parliament to support the current efforts to return the country’s political environment to normalcy. But added the source: “this seems to be a public relations exercise.”

The source said the planning and organizing of the conference contradict the policy guidelines of the international and multilateral organizations which insist on country ownership of the various processes and contradict good practices on such matters. It was pointed out that the Guyana Government was neither consulted nor involved in the planning of the Wilton Park Conference. This, the source explained, is quite strange, especially since the topic is “Guyana - The Way Forward” and the Government, as the legitimate-elected representative of the people, ought to be a key actor in any such discussion.

Concerns, the source pointed out, also surround the composition of the panel as there was no government representative on the original programme, while there were several panelists known for their partisan and anti-government positions. The Chronicle understands that in response to this glaring situation of partisanship, the British High Commission on Thursday evening was frantically sending out invitations to certain PPP personalities to address the clear bias of its panel. Invitations were originally sent out late last month and in the first week of June.

The source noted that the Government has been engaged in discussions with the British High Commission to have its concerns raised, but insisted that unless these are addressed the Government’s participation remains doubtful.