The Office of the President has noted in a statement to the media made today by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Robert Corbin, in relation to the Constructive Engagement Process. Consistent with the agreement between President Bharrat Jagdeo and Mr. Corbin at their June 12 and 19 2003 meetings, a mechanism was created in which the High Representatives would deal with delays, differences and concerns and if they were unsuccessful, they would resort to the leaders for direction, the Office of the President whishes to offer that clarification in the interest of better public understanding of the issues.
In July 2003, the President proposed to Mr. Corbin that the anomaly regarding the composition of the Police Service Commission be corrected. This proposal was informed by the fact that the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) Report to the National Assembly recommended that the Police Service Commissions be composed similarly to the Public Service Commission and the Teaching Service Commission. This was not reflected in relation to the actual provision dealing with the composition of the Police Service Commission. A principle that the Oversight Committee of Parliament would not alter any of the CRC recommendations was violated. The President's proposals also offered the PNC/R one of the three members to be appointed by His Excellency to the Public and Teaching Service Commissions. The Office of the President wishes to reiterate the President's comment to the media conference on Thursday, November 27, 2003 that no definitive response was received from the Leader of the Opposition to this proposal unto this day.
The Office of the President will reserve its response to other misinformation by the Leader of the Opposition at his media briefing.
Meanwhile, His Excellency, in a letter to Mr. Corbin dated November 29, 2003, invited him to commence meaningful consultation on appointment of the outstanding members of the Public and Teaching Service Commissions.
In a related development, the Office of the President calls on the Guyana Elections Commission to publicly comment on the PNC/R's unfounded discrediting of its registration database.