Former President, David Granger has asked for the December 15, 2020, meeting between all former Presidents and President Irfaan Ali to be deferred until several issues he raised are addressed.
In a statement released by Granger’s People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) Party, the former President, for the first time, acknowledged receipt of a letter dated December 04, 2020, from Minister of Governance, Gail Teixeira inviting him to a ‘working lunch’ at 12:00h on Tuesday, December 15, at State House.
The party said the letter did not explain amply the purpose of the intended meeting nor recommended an agenda for his examination.
While three other former Presidents have confirmed their attendance at the meeting, Granger emphasised that it would be a huge public disappointment for the proposed high-level meeting to take place, hurriedly, in an unorganised, unplanned manner and without a predictable prospect of progress or success.
“There was no indication of the preparation that would be needed, the relevance of the engagement to government policies and the outcome that would be expected from deliberations. The President’s intention on the other hand, according to newspaper reports, was to generate ideas on Guyana’s development,” the statement added.
Granger reportedly pointed out that he regards Guyana’s development as a serious matter.
Until his concerns about the agenda of the meeting addressed, the former President has declined to attend the meeting scheduled for December 15.
Earlier on Friday, Teixeira said her office did not receive any response from Granger.
President Ali could not be reached on Friday to confirm whether the meeting will go ahead with Granger’s absence.
Former Presidents Donald Ramotar, Samuel Hinds and Bharrat Jagdeo have all confirmed receipt of the invitation and said they intended to attend the meeting prior to Granger’s response.
The meeting is being regarded as a representation of Ali’s commitment to inclusive governance although he has refused to meet with Harmon who holds a constitutional post as Opposition Leader.
How on earth is one supposed to begin a relationship with the opposition that could lead to more balanced ethnic Governance? You have to start somewhere and Granger and Harmon and Trump are all acting like they should be deferred to like they are victims of election fraud.
The supporters of the PNC/Coalition are the ones that suffer and while their party is falling apart they do deserve some leadership and right now that is only going to come from a caring PPP.