Proposed secretariat getting support, role seen in easing village tensions
The Social Partners wrote to the parliamentary parties on Monday inviting them to resume on March 10, their joint consultations on inclusive governance as suggested by Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution.
Article 13 of the Guyana Constitution provides for individuals and their organisations to participate in the decision-making process of the State.
The Social Partners have proposed Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel as the venue for the meeting. The first consultations on these proposals were held on September 2002 but the discussion was adjourned to allow the Social Partners to expand on their proposal for a structured, ongoing and permanent mechanism on inclusive governance.
The Social Partners are now awaiting the responses of the parties so that they could conclude arrangements including the draft agenda for the meeting.
The letter refers to the paper circulated by the Social Partners on November 8, 2002 which made reference to the establishment of a small secretariat to service the ongoing consultative process and the draft terms of reference of such a secretariat.
The Social Partners say in their letter that they believe that such a secretariat could carry forward the work they have already undertaken in identifying the obstacles to the establishment of approved constitutional and other commissions and committees. “We believe that the findings of our 37-page report on this matter to be a more than an adequate basis for drafting a work programme for timely implementation.”
The 37-page report re-ferred to was compiled by Ralph Ramkarran who chaired the Constitutional Reform Commission, Haslyn Parris, who was secretary to the Commission and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who was a Commission member.
The Social Partners ex-plained that the proposed secretariat, which would be staffed by experienced local and international professionals, could assist and support the implementation of decisions taken at the successive joint consultations.
In addition they said that the staff of the secretariat could assist in designing and drafting reconciliation and recovery programmes within, and between the volatile villages and communities on the East Coast Demerara.
“Such work would necessarily be undertaken in full consultation with the residents of affected communities and with support from local authorities, non-governmental and other organisations.”
The Social Partners said they have had indications of interest from the bilateral and multilateral donors in supporting the secretariat and that exploratory discus- sions with Parris and Dr Roopnaraine indicated that they could be persuaded to serve.
The Social Partners added that the bilateral donors have also indicated an interest in supporting the printing of 10,000 copies of the revised Constitution of Guyana.
The Partners said that if the Joint Consultation approved of the initiative the proposed secretariat could initiate discussions with the relevant government, parliamentary and other officials to bring it to fruition.