Commonwealth backs `dialogue’ in Parliament
By Chamanlall Naipaul
Guyana Chronicle
July 28, 2004
THE Commonwealth is keen on national debate and the process of dialogue being maintained within the parliamentary structure here, an official of the London-based organisation said yesterday.
Ms. Juliet Solomon from the Commonwealth Secretariat said such an approach helps to strengthen institutions of the state.
She is here with Mr. Lach Ferguesson, also from the Commonwealth Secretariat, to follow up on talks the Commonwealth Secretary General’s Special Envoy to Guyana, Sir Paul Reeves, has had with top representatives of the government and the main Opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) since 2002.
Asked about the PNCR’s selective boycott of Parliament, Solomon said that while the Commonwealth would not pronounce on the internal dynamics of local politics, it is of the view that the parliamentary process should be optimised in the resolution of national issues.
She stressed that the intention of the Commonwealth is not to dictate solutions to Guyana in its efforts to deal with political and social issues, but to help all stakeholders recognise the role and contribution of the parliamentary system to the democratic process.
She said talks she and her colleague had with President Bharrat Jagdeo at the Office of the President on Monday, focussed on the ongoing engagement between the Commonwealth and Guyana.
In an address at the Royal College for Defence Studies in London last week, Commonwealth Secretary General, Mr Don McKinnon noted that Sir Paul, former Governor General of New Zealand, has been engaged here as his Special Envoy since 2002.
“The objective of his engagement is to promote dialogue between the main political parties with a view to developing more inclusiveness in the political life of the country”, McKinnon said.
PNCR Leader, Mr Robert Corbin called off structured dialogue with President Jagdeo in April this year, citing differences with the government, and the party has boycotted sittings of the National Assembly.
Mr Jagdeo has indicated that Parliament should be the place for discussions on national issues.
Solomon said Sir Paul was not finding it practically possible to visit as often as he would like because he lives in New Zealand and she and Ferguesson are here to fill in for him.
Asked about her views on the establishment of parliamentary committees here which comprise government and opposition representatives, she indicated that it was a positive development and would help to facilitate the work of the Parliament.
She, however, cautioned that it is essential for the work of these committees to inspire confidence in all stakeholders and said she and Ferguesson would be meeting the convenors of those committees.
As regards ethnic problems here, Solomon observed that within the Commonwealth, Guyana is not unique in this respect, noting that Fiji and her native Trinidad and Tobago, with roughly the same ethnic composition of population, have had similar problems.
While the solutions applied elsewhere may not be applicable here in a wholesale way, the experiences gained in other countries could be used to help find solutions to Guyana's ethnic problems, she said.
She feels a major factor in ending ethnic tensions is the creation of an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.
In relation to the stalemate in arriving at a suitable electoral system to be used in Local Government Elections, last held in 1994, Solomon said the Commonwealth would be eager to help resolve the issue if requested.
The two secretariat officials are meeting a wide array of government and non-governmental organisations.
Solomon said they have met Mr. Gocool Boodhoo, Chief Elections Officer, who represented Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Dr Steve Surujbally, who is currently abroad.
The talks centred on technical assistance that can be provided to GECOM by the Commonwealth, she said.
Solomon is Special Adviser to the Commonwealth Secretariat on the Caribbean and Pacific regions.
She is the granddaughter of former Deputy Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr Patrick Solomon.