Following differences with the government here, the British High Commission issued a terse statement yesterday announcing that its government was cancelling the conference it had planned on Guyana next month in the United Kingdom.
The six-line statement said, “After consulting with a number of our international partners including the Commonwealth Secretary General, we have concluded that it would be unwise to proceed with the Wilton Park Conference on Guyana at this time.”
The statement was issued after the High Commission had already closed for business and none of its officers could be contacted to provide information as to what consideration had gone into the decision.
When contacted by Stabroek News about the statement, Information Liaison to the President, Robert Persaud said he had “no comment” to make and refused to be drawn any further.
Persaud had told Stabroek News last week that the government had concerns about the focus and objective of the conference and that these were under discussion with the British.
Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon later told the Catholic Standard that because of its concerns the government had decided not to participate in the conference. Persaud explained the apparent conflict between his and Dr Luncheon’s statement as being due to the Cabinet Secretary not disclosing that there were discussions taking place between the government and the High Commission.
Persaud added, in a statement issued by the Government Information Agency, “The Guyana Government has and will always support non-governmental, local and international attention and support, which can have a positive impact on the domestic, political and economic environment.”
“Also, the Government continues to value the support rendered and the interest shown by the British Government in Guyana’s development.”
While the PPP/C government had qualms about attending the conference, the PNCR had none and was to have named its team yesterday. Stabroek News understands that Steve Crossman, the Deputy High Commissioner at the British High Commission called on PNCR leader, Robert Corbin to notify him of the cancellation. Corbin could not be reached yesterday for a comment.
ROAR leader Ravi Dev could not be contacted for a comment and GAP/WPA parliamentarian Sheila Holder said she had no comment as she knew very little about the development.
Dev and Holder were among a number of individuals invited by the British High Commission to participate in the conference that was to have been held at Wilton Park, the West Sussex conference centre. Others who were invited to take part included Guyanese-born British minister Baroness Amos, David Lammy, who is of Guyanese parentage, Sir Shridath Ramphal, Professor Clive Thomas, Commonwealth Secretary General, Don McKinnon, the Commonwealth envoy to Guyana, Sir Paul Reeves, the CARICOM Secretary General, Edwin Carrington and St Lucia’s Prime Minister, Dr Kenny Anthony, who has lead responsibility in CARICOM for governance.
Former UK Secretary for International Development, Clare Short had proposed the conference last October as a way of trying to break the political impasse between the PPP/C and the PNCR. But since then, the PNCR elected Corbin and the President and Corbin signed a communiqué on May 6 that paved the way for the PNCR to resume their seats in parliament and implement a number of constitutional and parliamentary reforms.
The government contends that it was not consulted about the programme for the conference given the new situation and was unclear about its status and objective. (Patrick Denny)