– President says as Jagdeo yet to respond to offer for meaningful dialogue

PRESIDENT David Granger on Thursday said he is “a very patient man” and even if Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo wants to stall meaningful dialogue with the Government until after Local Government Elections (LGE), he will not retract his offer for talks.

Since assuming office, the coalition Government has remained open for talks with the Opposition but it was not until Jagdeo received a phone call from former US President Jimmy Carter that there seemed to be a new blossom of hope for such.

Carter had telephoned the Opposition Leader after he heard the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had refused the offer to engage in amicable talks with Government.

Jagdeo had said he has no objection to talks but was uncomfortable with Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo leading the talks. The President, on his part, agreed to lead the talks.
“It takes two persons to talk, otherwise it’s a monologue. If it is to be a dialogue, he has to be ready and if that’s what he said, that’s what he said. We were ready in 2015, as you know, but he explained the circumstances under which the talks were not started,” the President said.

Asked whether he would wait until after Local Government Elections which is scheduled for November 12, the President responded: “I’m a very patient man”.