President Bharrat Jagdeo

The life of the present government comes to an end after August 4, 2006 necessitating a constitutional solution.

The two met on Wednesday and agreed that a four-member team comprising two members from the People's Progressive Party Civic and the PNCR would sit to examine arrangements for the operations of the government after August 4.

According to a joint statement, Jagdeo and Corbin noted with concern the public differences about aspects of the functioning of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM). 

Corbin expressed the concerns of the Joint Parliamentary Opposition Parties about the exclusion of house-to-house verification of the 2001 OLE in the latest work programme submitted by GECOM.

According to the statement, the two men expressed their mutual concern about the withdrawal of the three Commissioners from GECOM.

Opposition Leader, Robert Corbin

The three commissioners stated that GECOM headed by the Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally has been lying to the nation. Dr. Surujbally has since displaced those claims as baseless and has hinted that he is prepared to continue in the absence of the commissioners.

The commission comprises seven members, three each from the Government and the Opposition while the Chairman heads the commission.

"Mr Corbin made known his desire for the issues of contention to be resolved early so that the full Commission could function in such a manner as will ensure that GECOM enjoys the full confidence of all reasonable Guyanese," the statement read.

President Jagdeo highlighted the Government's views on the constitutional mandate of GECOM to make final decisions on all matters related to the holding of Regional and General Elections as soon as possible.

Jagde and Corbin agreed to monitor developments at an upcoming meeting scheduled for next week.

This latest meeting comes after months of a stand off between the President and the Opposition Leader which many observers, including former U.S President, Jimmy Carter, believe was the reason behind the instability in the country.