`At the end of the day, this is our country; at the end of the day I believe that most people have nowhere else to go.' - Opposition Leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte

DEBATE on the 2001 Budget wrapped up yesterday afternoon with the Government warmly welcoming Opposition Leader, Mr. Desmond Hoyte's further reaching out for national consensus on issues.

"I believe that we have an opportunity for a fresh beginning, (a fresh) start. All I say (is) let us seize the opportunity", Mr. Hoyte urged as he ended his presentation on the budget.

In addition, Hoyte, also leader of the main Opposition People's National Congress Reform (PNC/R), said his ongoing talks with President Bharrat Jagdeo have a significance which will soon dawn on people.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr. Reepu Daman Persaud, welcomed the approach adopted by Mr. Hoyte and said "today has been a special day in the National Assembly".

Despite criticism from the Opposition during the budget debate, Persaud felt that Hoyte had injected the new political concept dialogue into the proceedings.

"I think I can tell him he has an important role to play and I say publicly, not only that he has that role to play, I think that he can play it and play it well", Persaud said.

He called the note on which the Opposition Leader chose to end his presentation "reassuring" and urged Hoyte as leader of his party, "let us not allow conflicts and confusion and chaos to get the better of this country or our people."

He praised the President and Hoyte for embarking on the dialogue started in April at the invitation of Mr. Jagdeo, noting this has been criticised.

He said the move by the President was "an act of courage and equally I want to say the response of Mr. Hoyte is an act of courage."

"It was frightening to live in the post-election period 2001 and we must ensure...that those days never return", Persaud urged.

Hoyte said that in the long budget debate many claims and counter claims were made and many extravagant things said and denied.

"At the end of the day, this is our country; at the end of the day I believe that most people have nowhere else to go.

"They belong here and are going to die here...the duty to keep it intact devolves on all of us", Hoyte said.

He added, "that is not going to be discharged by pointing fingers and making allegations and writing letters to the press as to who did what and when."

He referred to the biblical saying that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

He said there was no good reason why "we cannot forge a national consensus on some of the things we need to do."

He said that in the talks with the President, "we have almost...imperceptibly reached a significant stage in the political evolution of our country".

"The strength of those talks lies in their informality. That is where the strength lies, that there is no formality in the thing with hundreds of advisors and photographers all over the place.

"I personally believe that the significance of the start of those talks is going to dawn upon people not too far from now."

Hoyte said he was not a "wild optimist" and called himself "a cautious man".

"I believe, however, as the saying goes, `the proof of the pudding is in the eating'; the success of these talks will depend upon what results they bring about and I'm satisfied in my own mind that these talks have been good."

He said "things have happened, the various committees have worked and as far as I'm concerned the agenda of these talks can never be closed."

"The agenda is an open agenda", he said, adding that it could be broadened to involve other players.

Persaud said that if investment is not forthcoming as is expected, "one has to logically address the reason and one of the reasons is that whether in Guyana, or any other part of the world, the investors (have) to be satisfied that there is stability and peace in the country".

He said peace and stability were the primary prerequisite for anybody to bring their money and invest in Guyana.

He urged Hoyte to "let us work together to bring about that stability."

He was sure that with the conviction and optimism, there is great hope for Guyana.

"People want to move ahead with their lives; they are fed up with conflicts, just fed up. You hear people talk and they are saying they don't know where the politician wants to take them."

Persaud felt a new political environment was being constructed, and it is to the good of the country when "we can meet and talk, exchange ideas, make proposals and give suggestions to the people".

He suggested that from the exchanges in the National Assembly, there must be a resolve "to move this country forward."

"Today has been a special day in the National Assembly," he said, adding it "shows that we have the capacity and we have the will and we can avoid being acrimonious and hostile to each other".

Persaud suggested that if this can happen in Parliament, it can take place in every corner of the country.

"What important people do others are likely to follow..."

He said there was no need to provoke hostility and no one should be allowed to "undermine and threaten that harmony which can still be constructed in Guyana."