President Donald Ramotar says that there is nothing to report with regard to talks between the Government and the Opposition, even as the budget looms large and other issues still hang in the balance contingent upon the talks continuing.
“Nothing new to report,” said Ramotar yesterday while walking away as he was being questioned by Stabroek News as to whether any meetings have been planned for the continuation of the talks.
Talks have been stalled since the meetings to consider the Terms of Reference for the Linden Inquiry called for after the July 18, 2012 fatal shooting of three men who were part of a protest at the Wismar-Mackenzie bridge. Approached by this newspaper for a similar update, Prime Minister Sam Hinds said, “We would like it to become active again.”
Speaking at the Alliance For Change’s press conference yesterday, Leader of the party Khemraj Ramjattan said that indeed there was a call from the Cabinet Secretary Dr, Roger Luncheon that they would like to have a resumption of the talks.
“I have indicated to them that yes we are interested in an engagement and that it will start from where we have left off. We don’t like these short periods of lapses extended to six seven months since a lot can occur,” he said. “Then the government seeks to call us back as if at their will and fancy it is giving the Opposition the impression that only when the government of the day would like to resume they make the call,” he said. “This is supposed to be an ongoing process. We were supposed to [have] the budget talks. We find we are being treated with utter disrespect by the government,” Ramjattan said.
He said that the AFC would like the new round of talks to include a halt to the demonization of the leadership of the party with regard to the thuggery on October 11, 2012 in Agricola; input into the budget arrangements for the 2013 budget.
The party also wants questions on the expansion of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri and the socio-economic impact of that development addressed.
“We are open to discuss all the issues…the one seat majority [of the Opposition] has done nothing that is outwardly outrageous,” said Ramjattan.
However, at his post-Cabinet press briefing held at the Office of the President yesterday, Dr. Luncheon said, “This situation for us in parliament is unacceptable and it actually is defeating the purposes of having the decision-makers and the representatives of the people gathered together when nothing comes out that connotes that they are all interested in the same thing- looks like we all want to fight down and to make war.”
