THE main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) has responded to the call by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to major parties to break the political deadlock by seeking more access to state-owned radio and TV.
It has also signalled that it can end its boycott of parliament if the government agrees to discuss shared/inclusive governance and a review of the electoral system.
Mr Carter left Guyana August 13 after a three-day visit appealing for an end to the political wars here and said his Carter Center could stop its longstanding involvement if the deadlock is not broken.
He said he had urged President Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader Robert Corbin to consult each other regularly and called on Mr Corbin's PNCR to end its boycott of Parliament over differences with the government.
Carter told reporters he believes Mr Jagdeo and Mr Corbin could shortly resume communication.
The PNCR leader called off structured dialogue with the President in April this year citing differences with the government and the party has boycotted Parliament, except for one sitting.
The government Wednesday announced it was moving to follow through on proposals Carter tabled to break the political deadlock with the PNCR and Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, has been selected to lead the administration's engagements with the opposition party.
At his weekly press briefing, Luncheon noted that most of the outstanding issues from the structured dialogue between President Jagdeo and Corbin require parliamentary consideration.
At its weekly press conference Thursday, the PNCR argued that positive and concrete actions and not political posturing are essential to resolve Guyana's political and other difficulties at this time.
In a prepared statement, it said that consequently, Carter's departure statement and its public endorsement by President Jagdeo "are insufficient unless the Presidents' statements are followed by visible action to implement decisions already reached between President Jagdeo and the PPP/C Government on the one hand, and Guyanese stakeholders on the other."
The PNCR said it has taken "concrete steps" to remind the government of some outstanding matters so that a serious evaluation could be made of Mr Jagdeo's resolve and political will to act in accordance with his public declarations.
It said PNCR General Secretary, Mr Oscar Clarke, has written the management of the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) proposing "some interim measures that may be taken to implement the decision that there should be equitable time for parliamentary opposition parties in state-owned media."
The PNCR wants coverage and broadcast by NCN of its weekly press conferences; broadcast by NCN of the Sunday version of its `Nation Watch' TV programme, and broadcast of a weekly feature on the activities of the Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition.
"The positive response of NCN will determine the seriousness of President Jagdeo to the implementation of one of the outstanding decisions of the communiqué (reached on May 6, 2003 between Mr Jagdeo and Corbin) that requires only political will", the party said.
Acting PNCR Chairman, Mr Vincent Alexander, in his capacity as a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reform, has also written the Chairman of that committee, Attorney General, Mr Doodnauth Singh, requesting that the body be convened as soon as possible to deal with urgent issues.
These, the statement said, include the review of the electoral system as agreed prior to the 2001 general and regional elections, and inclusive/shared governance.
It added that two documents on governance by the PNCR and the governing People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) represent a starting point.
The PNCR said that Mr James McAllister, team leader of the Procurement Act review team established during the `Constructive Engagement' talks between the President and Corbin, has also written Luncheon to enquire whether the government was now willing to proceed with the implementation of agreements made in relation to the Procurement Act 2003.
It said several recommendations for amendments of this Act were agreed by the joint team, which included Luncheon, but for some time now these have been allegedly sent to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel for drafting the necessary amendments to the legislation.
According to the PNCR, McAllister has asked Luncheon whether the draft amendments are now available for stakeholders' review and tabling in the National Assembly.
"These are only some of the outstanding matters and the response by the administration will be the test of its seriousness in proceeding to resolve outstanding issues, some of which led to the policy of the PNCR of selective non-participation in the National Assembly", the statement said.
The PNCR said it has no disagreement with Carter's departure statement "as it re-echoes matters which the PNCR had repeatedly pointed to and matters upon which several Guyanese are agreed."
Before he left Carter declared that there is "little prospect for either substantial economic or social progress unless there is a truce in the political wars."
"No one party should bear the blame. The traditions and culture of both major political parties are deeply entrenched and have their roots in fifty years of fierce rivalry that denies the legitimacy of the other party's concerns.
"This problem can be solved only with basic constitutional changes in the system of governance", he stressed.
Carter said that based on many years of observation and his recent conversations with Guyanese citizens and members of the international community, he has shared with President Jagdeo and Corbin his thoughts on some steps that might be taken to ensure political harmony, peace, and stability.
These are:
1. The political leaders should consult with each other regularly, beginning with the implementation of agreements already reached, as described in the May 6, 2003, communiqué and other documents.
2. Representatives of the PNCR should return to their posts in the parliament.
3. All the provisions of the National Development Strategy (NDS) should be debated in the parliament, with as many as possible implemented into law.
4. The Standing Committee on Constitutional Review should be reactivated to implement proposals for substantive governance and election system reforms, drawing heavily on civilian participation. The two party documents on governance represent a starting point.
5. An independent civil society forum should be created to lead a structured national discussion on a vision for governance of the country to promote reconciliation and the NDS.
The Nobel Peace prize winner 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.
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 the PNC had steadfastly resisted implementing changes in the electoral system that had long been characterised by widespread fraud and rigging.
The PPP/Civic won the October 5 elections, ending some 28 years in power by the PNC.