Ali to go ahead with fmr. Presidents meeting in Granger’s absence

President Irfaan Ali is expected to go ahead with his working lunch with former presidents of Guyana at 12:00 noon Tuesday at State House in the absence of former President David Granger.

On Friday last, Granger had asked for the December 15^th meeting to be deferred until several issues he raised are addressed. But while President Ali could not be reached for a comment on Monday, sources within his office revealed that there has been no notice for cancellation of the meeting.

When contacted by the News Room shortly on Monday, both former Presidents Donald Ramotar and Samuel Hinds indicated that they were not informed of any cancellation. They said that while Mr. Granger has declined the invitation, the meeting will go ahead.

The other former President, who is expected to attend the meeting, is Bharrat Jagdeo who currently serves in President Ali’s Cabinet as his Vice President.

Granger, in declining to attend, the meeting said there was no indication of the relevance of the engagement to government policies and the outcome that would be expected from deliberations.

Minister of Governance, Gail Teixeira, who is helping President Ali to coordinate the meeting, could not say on Monday how the President intends to address Granger’s concerns surrounding the agenda.

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.