Talks regarding an agreed framework for enhanced political cooperation between the government and the parliamentary opposition are unlikely to resume before the upcoming Cricket World Cup.
Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira told Stabroek News that an agenda for the continued engagement is in draft form, but it is being vetted to ensure it reflects the lone meeting that took place in November last year. Teixeira added that President Bharrat Jagdeo's schedule remains packed in the next few weeks, with the upcoming Rio Group Summit and Cricket World Cup Super Eight matches being hosted here.
As a result, she said, any follow-up meeting would be tentative. The Rio Summit opens tomorrow and ends on Saturday, while the Super Eight matches will be held from March 28 to April 9.
Last year, President Jagdeo and the representatives of the PNCR-1G, the AFC and GAP-ROAR met and agreed to priorities for an ongoing engagement, including crime and security, the economy and constitutional issues. The meeting was in keeping with the President's post-election commitments to inclusiveness and the development of a framework of cooperation among the parties.
Both international and local interest groups greeted President Jagdeo's willingness to engage the parliamentary opposition groups as a sign of political progress. However, since then the government has faced fierce criticism from the opposition for the implementation of the Value Added Tax regime as well as the passage of legislation to legalise casino gambling. In particular, the government's decision to proceed with the gambling legislation despite extensive objections was seen as flying in the face of the head of state's stated intention to pursue cooperation and to build trust and develop relationships between the parties.
Meanwhile, PNCR-1G leader Robert Corbin says the government continues to exhibit an arrogant, unresponsive and reckless attitude in treating matters of state. Corbin, who has expressed disappointment that there has not been a follow-up to the first and only meeting, explained that his own experience after previous engagements with the government has made him a supreme pessimist. "I have no faith in anything the government says until I have seen actual implementation," he said, while citing outstanding pursuits, including getting equitable access to the state media among all parties.
Both the AFC and GAP-ROAR have also expressed disappointment that there has been no follow-up.
In his inaugural address to the nation after taking the oath of office, President Jagdeo said he was interested in dispensing with the feelings of animosity generated by the political campaigns in order to advance the goals of development and national unity. He stressed that there would be scope for all political parties to work together under an enhanced framework of political cooperation, rooted in the primacy of parliament, grounded in a system that is responsive and accountable, and extended to civil society to deepen its participation in decision-making. "We will have to hammer out together this framework of cooperation in which the ideas and views that are sound and positive can become part of an evolving policy environment and provide those parties that are interested, the opportunity of assisting with their implementation," he said.
Local government was also identified as a priority for the engagement and the overdue polls could prove a catalyst for the resumption of talks.
Jagdeo had indicated at last year's meeting that he wanted local government elections held by August this year. But Corbin has pointed out that local government reforms need to be implemented before the polls can be held. Additionally, he has said that his party wants to see a new voter registration exercise, a course the President is said to have been disinclined to pursue in the light of attendant costs.
The Commonwealth, the OAS and the Carter Centre, all international observers at the general elections in August last year, have urged that the voters' list be made a priority. There have been calls for a verification of the current list, which is believed to be inflated, as well as for a completely new national registration. Corbin said the PNCR supported the recommendations and he hoped that the Guyana Elections Commission would proceed with a new registration expeditiously.