PRESIDENT David Granger believes that National Unity talks between the administration and the main opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) will soon commence, as government awaits word from Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo.
He yesterday dismissed claims that the PPP may have “ditched” the unity talks. “I think that is an exaggeration; I don’t think they have done that,” he said.
“I have had meetings with Mr. Jagdeo,” he said, “and I don’t think that he has ditched it; he has indicated that some of the matters that were raised need to be the subject of consultation with the rest of the PPP. He was alone at the meeting, and said he wants to consult his colleagues; and I accept that.”
On Monday, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee told the media that the party is not comfortable having national unity talks under the aegis of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan. Both Nagamootoo and Ramjattan have long parted company with the PPP, for which travesty they have since been labelled traitors.
Said Rohee Monday, “The APNU+AFC must be aware that the PPP is in no way desperate to engage both the APNU+AFC; this will be tantamount to a double kiss of death for the PPP; a reality it cannot ignore.”
Government, however, maintains that Nagamootoo is the “best man” to lead the national unity talks.
President Granger said the opposition leader will be given sufficient time to consult with his party members, and whenever he is ready to have talks on national unity, the government would be open.
“Again,” he said, “I don’t want to go into more detail… I did have a meeting with Mr. Jagdeo, and some matters were raised and he did indicate he wants to consult his colleagues. I am holding him to that; he says he wants to consult with his colleagues, and we will meet again when he wants, or when we want to… I could meet him anytime, anywhere.”
The President believes that the initial invitation sent to the opposition was “adequate” to commence discussions. “The door is open for the meetings, and we have established contact between Mr. Jagdeo, on his side, and somebody on our side; high-level contact. And between those two persons, they are capable of reconvening a meeting within a day’s notice.”
President Granger said he is not worried at all about whether the talks will come off or not. “I think that the possibility of talks is quite high, and we are committed, on the part of the coalition government, to ensure that those talks proceed. At present, they will proceed at the pace that is determined by the PPP and APNU+AFC side,” he said.
“I am not worried about that, I am very confident that the Guyanese people will see a higher level of political collaboration than before,” the president added.
By Ariana Gordon