Head of the Carter Center and former United States President, Jimmy Carter has taken the initiative to push Guyana’s leaders to begin much needed political talks which have been stagnant over the past three years.
Attempts to initiate talks with the Opposition on Constitutional Reform and other critical issues have been dormant over the past three years as the Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo refused to engage Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo who was put to lead the talks.
Jagdeo has contended thatNagamootoo is “a lightweight” in the Government and therefore cannot form any binding agreement with the opposition.
Jagdeo told the media that he received a call from Mr. Carter earlier this week and subsequently informed President Granger about the discussion during his meeting today.
Mr. Carter he said, asked him about the PPP’s reluctance to engage in meaningful talks with the Government.
“He [Granger] said if you have a problem with Nagamootoo…[He] will lead the talks,” Jagdeo told reporters.
According to the Opposition Leader, President Granger proposed Crime, Environmental issues and Oil and Gas as the areas he wants to discuss and not Governance and Constitutional Reform as was expected.
However, the Opposition Leader promised to have a discussion with his Executive members on “whether we will engage in this and whether we want to add issues to the agenda.”
A timeline was not given to get back to the President to begin the talks.
The Carter Center has worked in Guyana since 1992 to help deepen democracy, strengthen civil society, encourage sustainable development, and reinforce rule of law according to its website.
The Center sent its fourth election observation mission to Guyana for the historical 2015 Regional and General Elections.
