Jimmy Carter due here today
Guyana Chronicle
August 11, 2004
FORMER United States President Jimmy Carter is due here today at the invitation of President Bharrat Jagdeo.
Mr Carter, who played a central role in Guyana's return to free and fair elections at the October 5, 1992 polls, and the restoration of democracy here, is coming for talks with President Jagdeo and Opposition Leader, Mr. Robert Corbin.
In a statement from the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, he said he wants to assess whether the centre "might be able to make further contributions to the improved welfare of all Guyanese."
He said he had accepted an invitation from President Jagdeo to visit and has discussed the trip with Corbin on the telephone.
President Jagdeo announced last month that he had invited President Carter to Guyana, while he was on a visit to the United States, to assess how the Carter Center could remain engaged in Guyana despite the closure of its office here.
Carter managed to broker key electoral reforms between the late President Desmond Hoyte and Opposition parties, which led to the October 5, 1992 elections, the first free and fair polls here in almost 30 years.
Before then, Mr. Hoyte and his People's National Congress (PNC) had steadfastly resisted implementing changes in the electoral system that had long been characterised by widespread fraud and rigging.
The People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/Civic) won the October 5 elections, ending some 28 years in power by the PNC.
Carter noted that the Carter Center has been involved in Guyana for more than a decade.
"In that time, we have observed elections, supported the formulation of the country's National Development Strategy, and helped bolster the judicial system and strengthen citizens' organisations to make a greater contribution to public policy", he said.
"I look forward to meeting with President Jagdeo, Mr. Corbin, parliament members, and representatives of civil society and donor countries to hear all views on the challenges facing Guyana", he added.
Mr. Jagdeo said he has asked that the Carter Center remain engaged in Guyana in the National Development Strategy and the run-up to the 2006 general elections.
"I also extended an invitation to Mr. Carter to visit Guyana and do an assessment of the situation and not necessarily the current situation as it holds between the Government and the Opposition, the controversy, but generally about whether the Carter Center would remain engaged in those areas I mentioned before," he said.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) said Carter will be accompanied by a six-member delegation - Jason Calder, Assistant Director, Global Development Initiative; David Carroll, Associate Director, Democracy Programme; Larry Frankel, Director, Peace Development; Julie Zollman, International Global Development Initiative, Brian Lewis, Representative, Guyana Field Officer; and Nancy Konigsmark, Mr. Carter's Scheduler.
The team is due to leave Friday afternoon.