After a preliminary meeting on 14 June 1999, the Dialogue resumed on 9 August 1999.
The following consolidated agenda was agreed:
Agenda Items for Discussion between
PPP/Civic and PNC
as at 16 August 1999
|
PNC’s List |
PPP/C’s List |
| Victimisation and Discrimination
Composition of State Boards, Commissions and Committees Land and House Lots Distribution Parliamentary Reform Reinstatement of Public Officers Tender Board reform Public Service Appellate Tribunal Disarmament of PPP’s parallel Police Force Access to State Media The Integrity Commission |
Race Relations and Legislation to Concretise Equal Opportunity
The National Development Strategy National Health and Education Policy Public Sector Reform Taxation Policy The Social Safety Net Elections Commission |
By letter dated 9 August 1999, the PPP/Civic informed the Dialogue that Dr. Frank Anthony and Ms. Philomena Sahoye-Shury are replacing Dr. Roger Luncheon and Ms. Gail Teixeira on the PPP/Civic Dialogue Team. The General Secretary of the PPP/Civic Mr. Donald Ramotar is the leader of the PPP/Civic’s Team.
The PPP/Civic explained that the change in the composition of its Dialogue Team reflected the new focus the PPP/Civic was placing on the Dialogue which would centre on political and other party matters. The new team comprises members “free from heavy governmental responsibilities.” Dr. Anthony is the First Secretary of the Progressive Youth Organisation, the youth arm of the PPP/Civic and Ms. Sahoye-Shury is a Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Regional and Local Government.
The priority items set down for discussion are Land and House Lots Distribution by the PNC and Elections Commission by the PPP/Civic.
At the Statutory Meeting of the Dialogue held on 13 August 1999, it was agreed that both parties would document their proposals on Land and House Lots Distribution and Elections Commission and submit them to the Dialogue for discussion with a view to reaching agreement thereon.
The PNC submitted a memorandum dated 20 August 1999 entitled Principles for Determining Criteria for Land and House Lots Allocation and Distribution. These principles are:
1. The need for transparency and equity in the allocation and distribution of land and house lots.
2. The need to prevent the creation of ethnic insecurity and conflict.
3. In conformity with good land-use principles, practices and management, all land should be zoned and designated for particular usage. The “economic” or “best-use” principle of land utilisation should be applied for agricultural expansion, industrial development and human settlement.
4. The preservation, recognition and compensation for indigenous and lost ancestral rights to land.
5. The necessity for agrarian reform and the opening of a “second developmental front” in the hinterland.
6. The establishment of an independent constitutionally enshrined institution with responsibility for land and house lots distribution, review, dispute resolution and redress throughout Guyana.
By Memorandum dated 20 August 1999 the PPP/Civic stated among other things that –
The PPP/Civic is of the view that the Dialogue would be more productive in dealing with policies for the National Sectors where these policies are partially developed or in the process of formation.
Where, however, policies have already been developed and implementation mechanisms in place it would be inappropriate for the PPP/Civic Dialogue Team to question or criticise or amend those policies.
In these cases the issues would be more Government and Opposition issues and should be dealt within that framework.
The House lots and land Distribution issues fall within the category of Government and Opposition matters.
The PPP/C Dialogue Team will therefore recommend that these matters be taken up using the mechanism of
1. Minister-Shadow Minister Engagements
2. Parliamentary Standing Committees Engagements
3. Parliamentary Motion/Questioning Engagements.
The PPP/C team can only recommend this approach.
The PPP/Civic justified their position on the ground that engagement between two major political parties should not be confined to the Dialogue. Contacts should be as broad as possible. Once there is a policy in place and that policy is being implemented there can be no party to party engagement on the matter. It has to be dealt with as between Government and Opposition.
The PPP/Civic’s position therefore is that the Dialogue is not the appropriate forum for discussing and/or resolving Land and House Lots Distribution
The PNC took strong objection to the PPP/Civic’s proposal. The PNC is not prepared to raise issues at the Dialogue and not have those issues settled at the Dialogue but be told to go and raise the matter with the appropriate Minister. The PNC sees the Dialogue as a political mechanism for seeking to resolve the problems of the country. The PNC’s perception is that the PPP/Civic is introducing another device to frustrate the work of the Dialogue. The PNC considers that all their agenda items are legitimate items for inter-party dialogue and are consistent with the letter and spirit of the Herdmanston Accord.
In the circumstances, no substantive debate has taken place on the issue of Land and House Lots Distribution.
A separate meeting was held with the PPP/Civic on Monday, 30 August 1999 and Wednesday, 01 September 1999.
A similar meeting took place with the PNC on Tuesday, 31 August 1999.
The purpose of these meetings was to explore avenues for narrowing the differences between the parties. The matter has not yet been resolved.
Efforts will continue to reach an accommodation between the parties.
Dr. the Hon. Kenny Anthony, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia has been designated by the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community to assume responsibility for the implementation of the Herdmanston Accord and the Saint Lucia Statement including the dialogue process.
It is expected that he will be in Guyana later this month and will take the opportunity to review the state of the Dialogue and give any assistance that may be necessary to ensure that the letter and spirit of the Herdmanston Accord is achieved.
Office of the CARICOM Facilitator
3 September 1999
