Caribbean Net News

Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Guyana minority leader accused of ducking debate with President Jagdeo

Wednesday, January 12, 2005

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Guyana's Leader of the Opposition People’s National Congress Reform, (PNCR) Mr. Robert Corbin, has been accused of dodging from a public debate with President Bharrat Jagdeo.

According to Liaison to the President, Robert Persaud, President Jagdeo has proposed Friday January 28, 2005 for the public debate which will focus on a number of economic and social issues. However, it could address other issues, including drug trade, corruption and inclusive governance.

Persaud’s comment stems from Corbin's call for more access to the government media as a prerequisite for the debate between himself and the President.

Nonetheless, Persaud is calling statements made on Channel 9’s popular Nation Watch by several PNCR leaders to be mere "political bluff."

Caribbean Net News has confirmed that the Office of the President has written four times to the PNCR seeking reengagement to discuss outstanding issues from the Constructive Engagement Process, as well as President Jagdeo’s position to shift the process to the Parliament. These letters were sent between September and December last.

However, it was not until January 5 that the PNCR, through its General Secretary Oscar Clarke, responded. This was in response to the letter written by Dr. Luncheon to the PNCR on December 23, indicating the President’s willingness to have a public debate with the Opposition Leader.

The PNCR’s correspondence has indicated that the representative has been named and the Opposition Leader is willing to have the debate on a number of issues. Dr. Luncheon responded the said day.

The Office of the President was awaiting the PNCR’s response on the format of the debate when Corbin spoke of the prerequisites for the debate.

“The Office of the President has made it clear that the President of Guyana has no preconditions for the debate and is willing to publicly debate the Leader of the Opposition at any time, place and on any topic, including those stated by Mr. Oscar Clarke in his letter to the Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr. Roger Luncheon on January 5, 2005. Dr. Luncheon’s letter of January 5, 2005 to Mr. Clarke merely proposed a date (January 28, 2004) for the public debate. It was up to the PNCR to either accept or propose a new date,” the Information Liaison to the President said.

Dr. Luncheon’s correspondence to the PNCR has also called on the PNCR to appoint a representative following the understanding established between the Leaders and former United States President, Jimmy Carter, when he was here last August. The PNCR has finally named two representatives.

Immediately after Carter’s visit, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration named its representative with the intention of reengaging the PNCR on the outstanding issues.

“The Office of the President had written several letters to the PNCR urging it to name its representatives immediately following President Carter’s visit in August last. It was not until January 5, 2005, some five months after the former US President left, that the main opposition party decided to named its representatives,” he said.

He added, “The President of Guyana remains ready to debate Mr. Corbin at any place, time and on any topic.”

Previous Page Print This Page.