President Granger engages Jagdeo… Government, Opposition team up to resolve Venezuela controversy

Sep 01, 2015 News

A GOOD SIGN: President David Granger (r) meeting with Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday at the Ministry of the Presidency.

In what would be considered as a major political development, President David Granger, yesterday met with Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, to discuss a number of pressing issues.

Key on the agenda was the ongoing territorial and maritime claims by neighbouring Venezuela.

With Government and the Opposition unable to agree on quite a number of issues, even when they were in Opposition before the May 11^th General and Regional Elections, the agreement yesterday that the Venezuela issue is important enough to see collaboration was a major improvements to what entailed before.

Below is the full statement as issued by the Ministry of the Presidency:

Guyanese can look forward to the current administration doing its part to ensure inclusive governance. This was the sentiment expressed by President David Granger following a meeting with Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, at the Ministry of the Presidency, (yesterday).

President Granger said, in an invited comment, following the meeting that his administration is prepared to work with the Opposition for the benefit of the people of Guyana.

He added that there is the urgent threat to Guyana’s territorial integrity that must be addressed.  President Granger said that the Opposition Leader has agreed to work with the administration to deal with the Venezuela territorial issue.

Also discussed at the meeting, as a matter of national interest, was the establishment of the five bi-partisan committees. These bodies are the Agriculture Committee, Budget Committee, Border Committee, National Unity Committee and a Security Committee.

“Once Mr. Jagdeo was elected Leader of the Opposition, I wrote him inviting him to talks, because as Leader of the Opposition he has certain Constitutional obligations,” President Granger said.

The Head of State added that, there is important work that has to be completed on the packed roster of the Eleventh Parliament, which includes the 2016 Budget and support for the agriculture sector, particularly the rice and sugar industry.

Given the magnitude of these and other matters, the President said, he is pleased that the meeting happened, as it is important to start the process of addressing matters of national interest.