ERC head, Bishop Juan Edghill, said yesterday that plans are well underway for the two-day event, which is aimed at providing a framework for co-operation of all stakeholders, and identifying a common vision and action plan.

The National Conversation culminates the Multi-Stakeholder Forum project, in which residents all across Guyana were engaged.

The project was held under the theme “Enhancing social cohesion and deepening participatory democracy through dialogue.”

It saw 143 neighbourhood- level and 10 regional, conferences being held from March to July 2006.

The Multi-Stakeholder Forum project has its genesis in a decision taken at a Conflict Transformation Workshop for political parties and civil society in April last year, where participants agreed that the process should be taken to the community level.

It was expected that the National Conversation would have been held prior to the 2006 elections. However, following the announcement of the date for elections 2006, the steering committee planning the Multi- Stakeholder Forum decided to hold the Conversation at a date after the elections.

Edghill said this was out of consideration that the political parties were busy campaigning, and their full and meaningful participation would not have been possible.

In an effort to continue the process, and out of recognition that the issues of the special select groups were not adequately addressed during the stakeholder forum discussions, three select Conversations of Women, Youth and Religious Leaders were held in August.

It was also expected that the report of the National Conversation would have been tabled in the National Assembly 100 days after the new Parliament would have been sworn in. However, given the delay, it is expected that participants at the Conversations will decide on the new schedule for the tabling of the report.

Edghill said it is expected that some 400 delegates will participate in the Conversation including representatives from all political parties; civil society, including the private business sector; religious groups; youth; women; organised labour; the differently able; HIV/AIDS prevention activists; and ethnic-based culture groups.

Regional Chairpersons and Executive Officers, Mayors, Town Clerks, the Joint Services and the international community are also expected to participate.

A formal opening ceremony for the National Conversation will be held on November 15, at which the aims and objectives of the process will be clearly stated.

Group discussions, which will examine the reports coming out of the regional level stakeholder forums, will also be held.

Edghill said that at the plenary sessions, issues and responses coming out of the break-out group will be discussed, and the government and other groups will be given the opportunity to attend.

On the second day of the Conversation, political parties and civil society will state their vision for Guyana , and identify areas where there is consensus, a likelihood of consensus, and little likelihood of consensus.

Some 32 facilitators, who have been engaged in the stakeholder forums, are going through special training so that they can guide participants towards high-quality conversation. Edghill said many of the delegates selected at the regional level conferences are coming from areas outside of Region Four.

The Multi-Stakeholder Forum project is organised by the ERC with planning input from a steering committee comprising representatives of political parties and civil society. Financial support was provided by the ERC, from its budgetary allocation, and the UNDP Social Cohesion Project.

USAID has joined the effort for the National Conversation.