PRESS BRIEFING
Thursday, November 6, 2003

AGENDA

1. CONTRACTS

2. PRIME MINISTER’S VISIT TO REGION 1

3. GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA ON
SOCIAL PARTNERS

4. COMMUNIQUÉ UPDATE

CONTRACTS

Cabinet has offered its “No-Objection to the following contracts being awarded:-

HOUSING & WATER
Upgrading of Roads at Great Diamond: Phase 1, II and III - Central Housing and Planning Authority
G$33,296,560.00

PRIME MINISTER’s VISIT TO NORTH WEST DISTRICT, REGION 1

The Prime Minister has commenced visiting the North West District, Region 1, from Wednesday, November 5, 2003 to Sunday, November 9, 2003.

The Prime Minister will be focusing on mining related matters.

* Wednesday, November 5, - Matthews Ridge
* Thursday, November 6, - Noseno
* Friday, November 7, - Port Kaituma
* Saturday, November 8 - Mabaruma
* Sunday, November 7 - Rememberance Day
Parade at Mabaruma
Recreational Park

The Prime Minister’s team would include functionaries from the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Public Works and Communication, Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Guyana Forestry Commission, GINA and Councillors of Region 1.

GOVERNMENT OF GUYANA ON SOCIAL PARTNERS

Cabinet noted recent media reports about a presentation made by Dr. Peter De Groot, the Chairperson of the Social Partners Grouping.

That body had been engaged in 2002 with the Government of Guyana and the political opposition on the “Way Forward” for Guyana.

The report claimed that Dr. De Groot characterised the main Government functionaries involved in the engagement as displaying less than ideal attitudes and motives.

The term used included suspicions domineering. Importantly, the reports claimed that Dr. De Groot identifies these shortcomings by the Government representatives as leading to the collapse of the Initiative.
Cabinet in seeking to clear the air on the matter wishes to state:-

* The comments are anecdotal and should
ordinarily warrant minimal official attention.

However, in the context of the ongoing constructive engagements between the Government and the Opposition, the real motives for Dr. De Groot’s comments must be sought.

Interestingly, his characterization of the Government representatives leads to his real intention to create an Independent Monitoring Body of the Constructive Engagement.

While the Social Partners were inconclusively addressing the Government of Guyana’s concerns about their composition and their approach, the Government and the Opposition without the Social Partners’ inputs agreed to establish a Monitoring Mechanism for the Constructive Engagement.

One thing is certain that this Monitoring Group does not suffer from exclusivity that the Social Partners failed to address in their brief but useful venture into real polctik.

COMMUNIQUÉ UPDATE
PARLIAMENTARY MATTERS:
The main attention focused on the work of the two Parliamentary Committees:-

* The Public Accounts Committee and its
work on the Public Procurement Commission

* The Appointive Committee and its work on
Parliamentary Appointment to the Service
Commissions and the Rights Commission.

The Government of Guyana and the UNDP are collaborating on the planned Needs Analysis for Parliament in the context of its new role and responsibilities.

CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS
The October 21, 2003, physical exit of the PUC from Parliament is enabling the process.

The temporary locations of the Commission building has been identified.

The former BIDCO Headquarters in Queenstown has been identified as the location and assets are suitable.

Already the building plan is being reviewed to provide the arrangement for physical accommodation for the E.R.C., the Human Rights Commission, the Secretariats of both and their Tribunals.

BILATERAL ENGAGEMENTS
The High Representatives continue to meet. PNCR Executive Member Clarissa Riehl has joined the PNCR team.

An agenda for the delayed meeting of the two leaders, President Bharrat Jagdeo and Mr. Robert Corbin should be finalised soon in preparation for the meeting.