Having stated his intention to meet with President David Granger after his most recent Cuba visit for continued medical treatment, Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, will have his wish granted. At least this is according to a letter seen by the Guyana Standard.
In the letter dated January 3, 2019 and signed by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, Jagdeo is informed that “His Excellency the President will meet with you on 2019.01.09 [next week Wednesday] at 11:00 hours at the Ministry of the Presidency.”
Harmon, in the letter, goes on to ask of the Opposition Leader that he indicate the matters he wishes to place on the agenda for the meeting.
Towards the end of last year Jagdeo had stressed the importance of consulting with President Granger on the holding of new general elections.
This development came in wake of Friday December 21, 2018’s No Confidence Motion which saw government being defeated 33 – 32 because of the swayed vote of Member of Parliament on the government side, Charrandas Persaud.
The result of that vote had brought to the fore the need for new elections, and Jagdeo had stressed the need to discuss the way forward with President Granger. The outcome of the vote essentially meant that general elections would constitutionally become necessary within three months unless a longer time frame can be negotiated between government and the opposition.
But even as he anticipated an elections being called, Jagdeo had expressed concern about the “integrity of the elections” and thus had stressed the need to consult with the Head of State on a number of related issues including the health of Chairman of the Elections Commission, Mr. James Patterson.
