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 15th 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.
“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”
He also holds an unconstitutional role as a ordinary person who has no standing whatsoever. Because he refusing to recognize Ali as President it stands that he still recognizes Granger as President and then it follows that he cannot be the leader of the Opposition. Simple matter for Joe Harmon……wait out his petitions, bring out his SOPS and then recognize the President. After that I presume he will be recognized himself.