President Bharrat Jagdeo and Leader of the Opposition Robert Corbin are likely to meet soon to discuss the composition of the Commission of Inquiry into the Disciplined Forces.
The National Assembly last month approved the mo-tion authorising the setting up of the five-member commission, its terms of reference and the time-frame for the completion of its work. The Commission has to complete its inquiry into the Disciplined Forces in six months but must submit an interim report to the National Assembly into the operations of the Guyana Police Force within three months. The commission has to begin its work by June 5, according to the communique signed by the President and Corbin.
Among other matters to be discussed is the mechanism to monitor the implementation of the decisions taken in their meetings, their parties’ position papers on inclusive governance and the National Development Strategy.
So far the seven parliamentary standing committees have been appointed. The upgrading of the Parliament Office has been set in train, according to Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon at a press briefing last week.
These arrangements are expected to include the establishment of a secretariat and the appointment of the Ethnic Relations Tribunal.
Not yet implemented is the agreement that the parties should submit the names of their nominees for appointment to the Public Procure-ment Commission to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). Under the provisions of the constitution the PAC is required to recommend the names of the persons to be appointed to the National Assembly, which must approve them by a two-thirds majority. May 26 was the deadline for the submission of their nominees by the governing and opposition parties to the PAC but Stabroek News understands that this has not yet been done. However, sources close to the parties do not consider the delay as significant as they expect that the PAC would consider the matter before the parliament meets on Thursday.
Thursday, too, is the deadline for the Housing and Water Minister, Shaik Baksh to re-submit to the National Assembly a national policy paper setting out clear transparent and equitable national criteria for the distribution of land and house lots. The policy paper must also provide for the establishment of an independent statutory body to monitor and investigate complaints about discrimination in the distribution process and to provide adequate redress in proven cases.
With regard to local government reform, Stabroek News understands that the joint committee will be meeting on Tuesday to complete its work which it has to do within three months. The committee will be giving priority to the electoral system to be used at future local government elections and developing a suitable system and appropriate procedures for compulsory annual transfers by the central government to the local government bodies. It will also have to develop the terms of reference for an independent local government commission, which the Constitution Reform Commission recommended should be set up.
Unlike the local government committee Stabroek News understands the two leaders are yet to be presented with a list of the depressed communities from which to identify four in which emergency projects would be implemented. $60M is immediately available for the implementation of these projects.
Another issue to be tackled is the appointment of PPP/C and PNCR nominees to the various state boards, commissions and committees. The government, Stabroek News understands, has already provided the PNCR with a list of some 112 boards, commissions and committees to which it would be invited to submit nominations.