by Wendella Davidson
Guyana Chronicle
May 6, 2001

BARBADOS Prime Minister Owen Arthur, one of two Members of the Bureau of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads of government, says the Bureau is buoyed by the meetings between President Bharrat Jagdeo and Opposition Leader, Mr Desmond Hoyte.

"We are extremely pleased that the leaders of the two principal political parties have started to speak", he told reporters Friday at the formal opening of the Eighth Parliament of Guyana.

"In the final analysis, the answers to Guyana's issues lie in the hands of the Guyanese people; they are not beyond the capacity of the people of Guyana to solve and we are very pleased that the leaders are speaking."

"Anything that we can do to facilitate we will," he said.

Arthur and Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham flew here for the inauguration of the Parliament at the invitation of President Bharrat Jagdeo.

CARICOM has taken a close interest in political developments here since it helped broker the January 1998 Herdmanston `peace' Accord between the governing People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R).

That accord came amid violence and rising tensions from PNC street protests in Georgetown after the PPP/C won the December 15, 1997 elections and led to fresh elections being held on March 19 last, about two years before they were constitutionally due.

President Jagdeo had asked CARICOM to mount a team of observers before and for the March 19 elections and the group was among overseas observers who endorsed the polls, a decision the heads have sanctioned with their recognition of the re-elected government.

Arthur said Guyana is a very valued member of CARICOM as it was one of the countries that led to the development of the grouping.

"We are here not in any inclusive sense, but because we want to be engaged positively with the development of Guyana...we are here to share our solidarity with the efforts that are being made to build a better future for the society," he said.

Extending best wishes to the Guyanese people, the Barbados Prime Minister added that CARICOM wants to stay positively engaged.

"We believe that the future of Guyana could be successful, prosperous and stable, and whatever we can do to help, we want to help...and that is the only sense in which we are making our efforts," he added.

Asked whether he plans meeting PNC/R leader Hoyte, Arthur said though no specific meetings had been planned he, like in the past, was not averse to meeting Mr Hoyte now or in the future.

"We want to be within the signal that CARICOM wants to be positively engaged and wants to help," he emphasised.

Arthur and Ingraham were listed in an initial group of five CARICOM heads of government invited by President Jagdeo to witness the occasion.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Basdeo Panday of Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Dr Kenny Anthony, had indicated their unavailability due to prior commitments.

An official said Friday that the third member of the Bureau, new Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who was hoping to be here also could not make it.

President Jagdeo, formally opening the Eighth Parliament said he was "pleased to inform this National Assembly that the Leader of the Opposition and I have met in a number of highly productive sessions."

"I hope that these sessions have set the basis for meaningful collaboration in the next five years," he added, noting that his government was elected to represent the interests of all Guyanese and "I will not shirk this responsibility."

"I am heartened by the maturity of our people. They have rebuffed the hate-mongers and those who would ferment strife in our society.

"They have rejected attempts to divide our people along ethnic lines," he added.

The President and Mr Hoyte have had three meetings in two weeks and are to meet again Tuesday.

Prime Ministers Arthur and Ingraham yesterday visited the Omai gold mines, the world-famous Kaieteur Falls and the Baganara tourist resort in the Essequibo.

Accompanied by Foreign Trade Minister, Mr Clement Rohee, they returned to the city by boat along the Essequibo River and by road from Parika on the East Bank Essequibo.

They are due to leave today.