A Partnership for National Unity met with the American, British, Canadian and European envoys yesterday at their invitation on the suspension of Parliament and related matters.
General Secretary of APNU, Joseph Harmon told Stabroek News that Leader of the opposition David Granger was first approached by the EU Ambassador Robert Kopecky on Sunday. He told Stabroek News that the Ambassador had expressed interest in speaking with both the government and opposition prior to the controversial prorogation of Parliament on Monday.
Harmon said that yesterday American Chargé d’ Affaires Bryan Hunt, Canadian High Commissioner, Dr Nicole Giles, two representative from the British High Commission and Kopecky stated that the government and opposition needed to find internal mechanisms for a resolution of the stand-off. He said that members of APNU expressed the sentiment that dialogue prior to President Donald Ramotar’s proclamation to prorogue Parliament had proved uneventful with little compromise.
The Alliance For Change met with the Western Missions on Tuesday. Yesterday’s meeting included Leader of the Opposition, David Granger and APNU Executives Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, Ronald Bulkan and Harmon.
He said that the missions were of the belief that the work of Parliament should be resumed as soon as possible, which is what APNU seeks also.
Roopnaraine told Stabroek News yesterday that there was no indication from the Western envoys that any form of mediation should be brought in to help find a resolution. He added that if such a suggestion had been raised the APNU was of the belief that this was a local matter.
Stabroek News understands that the missions spoke about the impact the unease created by the president’s decision will have on foreign direct investment.
The power vested in the President to prorogue Parliament under the Burnham Constitution has given rise to questions on why the Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform of the 10th parliament, chaired by Opposition Leader Granger, has met only twice since the 2011 general elections.
Observers note that the Herdmanston Accord, signed by both the People’s Progressive Party/Civic and the People’s National Congress on January 17, 1998, had provided that “the PPP/Civic and the PNC will “activate arrangements for sustained dialogue between them with a view to fostering greater harmony and confidence and resolving issues on which agreement can be reached.””
The Herdmanston Accord was facilitated by Caricom to end the political tensions between the two main political parties after the 1997 general elections.
Along with dialogue, the menu of measures catered for the establishment of a Constitutional Reform Commission. Roopnaraine said that it was mandated that under the Terms of References membership of the commission was to comprise not only members of the National Assembly, but civil society also.
