Alliance For Change (AFC) executives, including leader Khemraj Ramjattan, General Secretary David Patterson and Treasurer Dominic Gaskin met President Donald Ramotar on Thursday where a number of matters were discussed and in the “frank” talks, the AFC was invited to submit some of its positions in writing.
In a statement, the AFC said that the invitation by the President for a meeting was accepted by the party after Ramotar indicated that he wanted to have a direct communication line with the leaders of political parties “so as to express his views on the major political and economic matters of concern, and also to hear very directly the views of the political parties on these issues.”
The statement said the AFC made it clear that it did not want this new development “to become a talk-shop…, with nothing fruitfully being realised and no concrete follow-up action being taken.”
The president’s team at the meeting included Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon and Presidential Advisor on Governance Gail Teixeira.
Among the topics discussed was the public procurement commission. “After lengthy discussion in which the President tried to make his case for maintaining Cabinet’s no-objection role in procurement matters, the AFC maintained our position that there should be no cabinet involvement in the tender process, that the PPC must be established under the existing legal framework,” the AFC said. “It was finally agreed that Dr Luncheon would put their arguments in writing to which we could then respond in writing with a view to narrowing down precisely where we differ. The positions will then be made public,” the statement added.
The controversial award of radio licences by former president Bharrat Jagdeo was also discussed. According to the AFC, Ramotar “avoided” discussion on whether or not Jagdeo acted in bad faith. “Their position is that the leader of the opposition delayed naming their nominee to the Broadcast Authority and this delayed the commencement of the new Act,” the statement said. The party advocated a clean-slate starting with the revocation of the grants made in 2011, a reversion of these to the NFMU; and, with all applying anew and the Broadcasting Authority granting, the statement said.
Also discussed were the bills passed by the opposition and which the President had declined to sign into law. “President Ramotar was adamant that he would not give his assent to these bills as they are unconstitutional. There was no movement on this. He also stated that the opposition was welcome to bring them back in six months. We assured him that we would and that if he chose not to assent, the AFC would not give support to the Anti-Money Laundering Bill. We indicated that he should assent and let his litigious AG take it to court for that body to pronounce on unconstitutionality of the Act,” the AFC said.
In terms of the National Insurance Scheme, the AFC said, Ramotar wants an AFC financial nominee to the NIS Board. “The AFC asked how early will the board members be removed and recommended that the entire board of NIS be replaced, however the government indicated that Dr Luncheon will remain as Chairman, with new members assisting the board. Dr Luncheon was critical of opposition bashing the NIS and making out that the NIS is about to collapse. He is to circulate government’s discussion paper on NIS to the AFC,” the statement said.
The Amaila Falls hydropower project was also discussed and the AFC said that the President was very concerned about the cut in the budget for this project. “The AFC team assured him that the AFC will support this once the IDB due diligence approves the project. The President mentioned that lack of approval might send the wrong signal to IDB. We begged to disagree,” the statement said.
In relation to the state broadcaster, NCN, according to the AFC statement “the President seemed to believe that the bias on the part of some of the private media was justification for the bias displayed, in government’s favour, by NCN.” The party said its team argued the case that NCN should be run on lines like the BBC. Ramotar requested that the AFC write to them on what AFC wants, which will be done, the statement said.
Guyana Power and Light utility was also discussed and the statement said that the President was concerned about the budget cut of $5 billion. “The AFC pointed out that the real cost of fuel this year will be 8% less than the anticipated costs due to a fall of world oil prices, means that GPL will have additional monies. The AFC made it clear that the GPL board [should] be sacked and more monies would be saved almost instantaneously. The reduction of line losses and improving efficiency at GPL are areas the AFC continues to be concerned about,” the statement said.
Also discussed was a reduction in the Berbice Bridge toll and according to the AFC, the President asked the party representatives to explain how they propose this be achieved since “to pressure a private company to reduce its rates will be nationalisation.” Ramotar suggested that the AFC should put its proposal to the Board of the Berbice Bridge Company, the statement said.
The other matters discussed included the appointment of a Chancellor of the Judiciary with Ramotar stating that he does not want to advertise for position of Chancellor, which is being asked for by the leader of the opposition, the AFC said. “He asked the AFC for its thoughts which were given,” the statement said.
Region Eight was also discussed and the AFC requested that in view of the government’s rotation of regional executive officers, maybe it was time that REO Harsaywack was rotated from Region 8, the statement said. “This we felt would prove whether the government was just talking or would adhere to the principle of rotation. The AFC felt it was time that the government considered doing so as an act of good faith,” the statement said.
The AFC said its representatives felt the meeting was “most cordial” and discussions were very frank.
